Nearing the End..Part 1

Not the end of the world....but the end of 2009. I can hardly believe it. It's been a year of so many emotions for me, which is probably subconsiously one of the reasons I stopped blogging for a season. It has been hard for me to put into words some of the things I've been through this year. That and the fact I didn't figure any of you would really be too interested in hearing about it.

But one thing I have missed by not blogging the last 6 months is being able to go back and read a recap of my life....which is important to me. I think I was my own biggest bloggy fan. I loved going back and reading past post. Seeing what my life was like on paper...and reliving the good parts in my mind...and the bad.

So, my friends, I am going to take the next week or so and (for myself) try to remember the things that have taken place in our lives in the months passed, and the things that have made an impact on my life. This blog, in it's own way, has taken the place of a book journal for me. Shame on me, for letting it go. Read if you like, or just pass on by, it you'd rather, but at least I can feel like I've done what I set out to do when I joined the blog world.

I checked back to see where I had left off posting "informative" stories of my life, and it appears that the last thing of any essence that I talked about was our trip to the lake. According to my windows photo gallery, it seems the rest of the month of July held a 4th of July celebration with my church family, a visit with my friend, a week sponsoring Little Ann and other little chickadees at church camp, and a rocking chair redo.

Remember this? Believe it or not, I think we have accomplished everything on the list. It looks much better.

With August came our Vacation Bible School with the setting in Rome this year. We had a good time as always.

And, of course, the first day of school. The 6th grade for my Little Ann.

and Freshman year in college for my Big Dan.

It wasn't as bad as I thought because he chose a local University that allowed him to commute instead of moving off into a dormitory. Of course, his first day was much too hectic for him to stop and let me take pictures, so I had to do the next best thing. The first semester is now over, and I strongly suggest anyone that has a "soon to be" college student. Let them start the classes first before buying books. We spent $700 on these books and several of them, he never even used. 1st college lesson learned.

Til next time.......

A Few Things

Today............
I got the kids up and delivered Little Ann to school.
Went back to bed because the heavy rain and the cold just made it too hard to resist.
Browsed my Facebook.
Decided I needed my morning bath to get me energized.
Browsed my Facebook and some blogs.
Started the laundry.
Browsed my Facebook.
Listened to Christmas Music via online streaming radio while cleaning the kitchen.
Baked chocolate chip cookies for the family.
Browsed my Facebook and some blogs.
Wrapped 2 Christmas gifts..one for Big Dan and one for Little Ann. She was so happy!
Put Big Dan's senior portraits in a frame.
Browsed my Facebook.
Organized more photos and cleaned out a closet to make room for all the boxes and giftwrap down from the attic.
Folded laundry....started more!!
Made enchilada's for dinner and sat down to watch The Biggest Loser while eating!
Browsed my Facebook and some blogs.
Put laundry away out of the living room floor.
Vacuumed the living room floor.
Tucked in my Little Ann and laid down with her until I caught myself drifting off.
Browsed my Facebook.
Loaded dishwasher from dinner and started more laundry..a jacket at Pete's request.
Compose daily blog entry......after browsing my Facebook.

Hmmmmm...wonder why I can't seem to get anything done.

Wordless Wednesday....sort of.

Remember this? Atrocious isn't it?

A little paint, some new hardware, and a new doorbell....later.

Much better.

A Work in Progress

If you read my post on all the things that needed to be done around this camp, you will be happy to know we finally decided to tackle it! We have told our kids they have to work to eat around here, thus, the quick response from them yesterday. Ok. so maybe not, but it sounded good, huh. Kind of authoritative.

Anyway, the real story is...that Pete got Big Dan up around 8 o'clock to get started bleaching the house down. He did a great job, but I heard grumbling along the way.

Pete steadily rinsed as Big Dan bleached and when I came out to supervise, I was quite impressed. A far cry from what it looked like a week ago. I was surprised Pete even volunteered to tackle this this soon...you know he was waiting on the cooler temperatures. I guess he picked a good day...I mean the high yesterday was only 97 instead of 107.

I hesitantly jumped in and tackled the jungle with my hedge trimmers, but with a little more caution this time.. and eventually we got the Queen Bee off her throne to join the fun. (yes, that would be Little Ann out of bed, away from Disney channel.com which she was watching on my laptop) Boy, kids have got it so hard these days.

When I was a little girl............. I won't go there.

We stopped working in enough time to get ready for midweek services at church, and afterwards treated ourselves to some cheddar biscuits from Red Lobster. Hey, we deserved it. I went into Lowe's to check out door knobs, light fixtures, and paint colors, but I walked out highly disappointed and a little dismayed at the cost of things these days. I'm going to do some looking around at Home Depot when we travel into the big city this weekend and see if I have better luck.

I got tickled at chickadees post yesterday about Milo praying for rain. It has been so hot and dry around here. I can't remember the last time it actually rained all day...lots of rain...enough to make a difference rain. July 4th maybe? Anyway, there was a woman at our church, who last night during prayer requests, actually requested that we pray for rain. Ok, no problem. So, when our pastor prayed, he did just that. Just a little while ago, I walked outside to see this beautiful, beautiful, wet rain falling from the sky and it is such a pleasant 80 degrees outside. God answers prayers.

We've still got quite a bit left to do on our home improvements agenda. Not sure when we will be able to finish everything up, but I can't wait to post pictures for you.

With only one week left of summer break, we are trying to squeeze so much in. Little Ann is traveling back to grandma's for one last visit, the kids and I are going on an overnight visit to see my bestest friend and her family..and to see their new home. (The 1st one they've owned.yea!!!) . I have scheduled senior pictures for Big Dan next Friday night and then it'll be back to the books!

Tune in tomorrow for a super fun post! I'm going back down memory lane!

Acountability and Much Needed Maintenance

This is my house. Cozy, isn't it? We had only lived here a few short years when this was taken. Notice, (besides the snow and ice) how nice and fresh everything is. Freshly painted doors, non-weathered shutters, and only a few neatly planted azaleas to line the front. And although, it was perfect when I planned it, and perfect when we built it, some interior choices I made turned out to be "not so perfect"...(kinda like the white carpet, I chose, but that's another post). The current "non-perfect" outside state.....well, let's just chalk that up to....

Mother nature, of course. Some wind, some rain, a little growing fungi, and 9 years worth of Mr. Morning Sunshine!

I have to say, I have a very busy hubby. His job as a Railroad Engineer keeps him away from home alot. When he is home, he is spending time with the kids, or me. He tries to catch a ballgame or two, a church service, and of course, he has to sleep. He does mow...does he ever mow. Like all the time, in cute little designs, he mows. (But, once again, that could be another post.) He tries to keep up, but sometimes it's hard.

Usually, I walk outside my back door or around to the porch, and think to myself...."wow, I really need to do something about that", but unfortunately, that's all it ever amounts to...thoughts. Yesterday, I drug Pete outside with me. We walked around every inch of our home, and I pointed out all the things I planned to do. (Well, I had planned for us to do.) He agreed. "It's got to be done, but not while it's this hot", he says. What that really means is...I'll tell her we'll do it when the weather cools off and then she'll forget all about it, and by the time fall arrives, she'll have moved on to bigger and better things.

Yeah, I'm a smart cookie.

So, these are my plans. And please, please, please, still be my friend when you see how disgusting things have gotten around here. I can't believe I am posting this, but I am counting on you to hold me accountable to my word.

Problem: The ever growing mold and mildew on our siding. Solution: bleach, bleach, bleach

Problem: The jungle. Solution: hedge trimmers, a wheel barrow, and fresh mulch

I admit, it takes a little motivation for me to cut, trim and freshen up the landscaping each summer. I always put it off until it gets so hot.. you know, so I can put it off some more. Sometimes, the mood strikes me where I actually want to go out and do it, but then things happen like this, that make me change my mind.

Problem: faded shutters from 9 years of morning sun
Solution: fresh coat of paint...have any suggestions for a new color? (I'm thinkin' black)

Problem: faded out door paint, worn out trim, and rusted (oh, ever so rusted) hardware
Solution: fresh paint on door, fresh paint on trim, and for sure new hardware!!!

Problem: faded door paint. These doors are to what used to be a little "consignment" business I owned - turned storage room. I think I need to cover the junk, huh?
Solution: fresh paint and mini blinds.

Problem: rock thrown right into patio door glass.
Solution: The neat little speckled look gave it some style for awhile, I thought. Now, that big "chunks" are falling out every time you open the door, maybe we should replace it??

Problem: Ewwww, these porch lights have got to go. Should I paint them, or replace them? Solution: Leaning more towards chunking these in the trash and starting over...I mean, I've gotten 9 good years out of em.

And last but not least: the chairs. I love this chair. I actually have 2. Pete bought them for me several years ago for some occasion (birthday, anniversary, just because), but anyway, I have always liked them. White shows way too much mildew, so I thought about painting them black. What do you think?

Ok, girls, now I've aired it. You've seen it all. Cheer me on and beg me for after pictures so I won't fail to proceed.

What kind of household projects have you let slide?

Scrapper Mom - (Drats!! I deleted my signature on accident again!)

A Clean Room (A Rare Thing)

Home Tour: First Room

Today, since you (my dear bloggy friends) and I are still getting to know one another, I thought I would give you a visit into my home. For starters, I chose to post pictures of our Living Room. Shannon did this on Wednesday and I often read posts from The Nester and Emily that give me glimpses of their beautiful living rooms as well. I guess I am a little nosy. I love looking at people's houses. Little Ann inherited that lovely trait. We can't go anywhere that she doesn't want to go in and "check things out".

Now, my decorating skills are quite different than those above....actually, I don't even have any decorating skills. Which is why I am posting the living room. It is the only room in the house, I have actually had "knowledgeable" help on. Like Shannon, I have been contemplating what kind of treatment to do on my windows...but I like the fluted trim, so I have been undecided. I think I need an area rug because of the big open space in the middle of the floor...and what I would do for a new couch. Oh, I didn't realize my pictures on the wall were crooked until I proofed this post! Please feel free to offer any suggestions.



So why today's post?....well, actually girls.....yesterday, I discovered in my living room NO stray DVD's - not in their cases...NO piles of laundry that have been ignored for days... and NO naked Barbie's lying around (oh, the list could go on). It actually looked presentable, so I ran got my camera and took pictures as quickly as I could. As for now, my dryer is beeping and laundry is awaiting it's place in my floor!