Patti's Place

My very special Mother's Day

2010-05-09T10:26:00.000-07:00

I know I haven't been on much at all. Work, family, business all seem to keep me busy. Usually by the time I get home from work, I don't want to be on the computer. And my days off, well, they are so packed full, I don't want to waste time on the computer. So, I don't blog much these days. Hopefully, I will get back to it soon, I do miss it.

Ok, so this Mother's Day was a bit different for me. For one, we all are in church together. What a wonderful treat just to be in church as a family! But it was also different for me, because I was asked to portray one of the top ten Mother's in the Bible.

My friend, Kristie, called last week and asked if I would be a mother from the Bible. I have a hard time saying no, and I am so glad I didn't say no. I had a choice of 3 to pick from, I chose Rachel.

I had to come up with 3 to 4 lines about who Rachel was. Turns out, it was 3 to 4 minutes, but not difficult for me to come through. And then to say how faithful God has been to us. That was the hard part.

First was Eve, mother of all creation. Mistakes are learned from, life goes on. Adam came from dust, Eve came from Adam. She came from a living being to give life to others.

Sarah was next, a woman who wanted a child so badly, to hold that baby in her life, to raise a child to fear God. But in her old age, she knew that she wasn't going to be that mother. Until God spoke, and at at 90, she became a mother.

I was Rachel, sister to Leah, Jacob's first wife. I was his favorite wife. And out of his 4 wives, we started a nation. 12 sons, 12 tribes. Rachel competed for Jacob's love and in the end she gave birth to his favorite son, Joseph, and his youngest son, Benjamin. She died giving birth. What a tragic ending to a story of a woman that was loved so much by a man that he would work his life just to receive her.

I had the choice of doing Rahab, and I declined because I didn't know all that much about her. I am so glad I didn't choose her, for Rhonda did an excellent job portraying Rahab. Rahab was a prostitute, she wasn't of Jewish belief. She left her profession and became the great great grandmother to King David.

Naomi was blessed with 2 sons, but life turned bad for her, famine, loss of job, looking for a job, moving, and eventually, losing her beloved husband. But little did she know the worst was yet to happen, her sons chose pagan wives. Heartbroken, no husband, no sons, no grandchildren.

Ruth was Naomi's daughter-in-law, and like Naomi, she was widowed too. Ruth has an amazing story, and an entire book dedicated to her in the Bible. Ruth married Boaz, son of Rahab, mother to Obed.

Hannah has an amazing story, she was barren, no chance to have children. But she told God that if He gives her a son, she would give him back to God. And that is exactly what happened. Samuel was given to Hannah and she did exactly what she said, she gave Samuel back to God. She left him at the temple to be raised by priests, visiting him once a year. Samuel grew up to be one of the greatest prophets in the Bible.

Mary was the first mother from the New Testament. The mother of Jesus. And I can't even describe the emotions that went through all of us when she got up there to speak. To a mother, and to be the mother of Jesus. Any mother knows what it is like to feel their children's pain. To want to take their place when they are hurt. But for her to suffer when her Son suffered, but to rejoice when He rose from the dead.

Number 9 is a mother that has no name. She is the mother of every son that was 2 and under, living in Bethlehem, that Herod had killed. He wanted to be the only king and he killed all the boys that were under the age of 2. To watch her son be killed, a piece of her was torn out, and she could do nothing about it.

Lastly, was a mother that we seem to forget is there. Mrs. Zebedee. Her behavior and actions were critized. She went to Jesus and asked for him to put her 2 sons the top spots in heaven, on His right and on His left. What does this say about her? She wanted her sons to be that close to Jesus. Just like we want our children to be that close to Jesus.

So, you see, my Mother's Day was very different. I was honored to represent a mother in the Bible, but it was more of an honor for me to be up there with 9 other women, representing Mothers as a whole.

2009 in review

2009-12-29T09:53:00.000-08:00

When 2009 started, little did I know what was coming down the road for me. Just like everyone else. We don't expect the deaths, the losses, the surgeries, the pain. We don't expect the wonderful things either. So many want things to stay the same, and you know that never happens.

I have had a year of WOW! How else am I supposed to put it???? I really have no other way to put it. God has been mightly moving in our lives and home. My God is able and He cares for you and for us!

Chuck had enough of the stress with RGM at Pizza Hut. Demanding time that would be more away from home, and then when he was home, walking on egg shells. He would be tired and not want to have anything to do with the family. He realized that is not the way to live and had just about enough to say goodbye to Pizza Hut. And enough to say, "Let's start a business" OK, not gonna complain about that.

So, the end of January came a goodbye to corporate work force and a step of faith. Little did we know that this was going to be a true step of faith. And so Clear View Cleaning was created. Business license and insured too. We started out cleaning windows, grabbed a few jobs, but knew that wasn't enough to make it through.

Lawns quickly picked up the side business. Let me tell you right now, I don't like mowing yards. It isn't the work, the heat or the sweat. It is the fact that pushing a mower is not what I want to do! I did get a very nice tan though.

February brought us Eric's 14th birthday, so yes, in a few months I will have one driving with a permit. I have grey hair now, just wait! February also having us tell goodbye to our sports cars. UGH! We traded the hot little MB and Jetta for a white Ford F150. I, to this day, still can't get in the truck gracefully. It also gave us a new trailer for the mowers. See, I didn't see this business with me on a mower..... LOL

March came forth with 2 birthdays. PJ hit the milestone of 10, no more single digits, those days are gone. And mine, well, 42 isn't so bad. I have had a great life so far, and age is just a mind over matter... And it doesn't matter to me!

May provided a scare for me. The Pizza Hut that I worked for at the time was robbed at gun point. I wasn't there, typical me, I was taking my time on a pretty Friday morning making my runs. I was in no rush. Stopped to talk to a friend, talked to a customer, got back to the store about 3 minutes after it all happened. I failed as a mother, I didn't call the school to let Eric know that I was ok. They locked down school and announced that Pizza Hut was robbed at gun point. Eric wondered all through the day if I was ok. To be in that position had to be very difficult. It was then that I decided to quit Pizza Hut and work with Chuck over the summer.

Chuck and I also celebrated our 19th anniversary. I cleaned windows that day, he pressure washed my dad's house. And then a dinner for just the 2 of us topped off the evening.

May also brought us an honor award for Eric. Yes, an honor award for the boy that struggled everyday in elementary school. The boy that was failing 6th grade received an honor award. I so wanted to cry, but I fought back the tears.

June we stayed pretty much very busy. Lawns, pressure washing, windows. Eric helped all summer mow lawns, thank goodness! But we looked at weeks that we were covered up, didn't think there was an end in sight. But we survived the month and came out on top.

It was July and August that it died off. More than we expected. But we took the time to be a family. Fishing on July 4th, I caught a fish! Camping, yes that was an experience for all of us. I lost the boys down the river, what mother does something that stupid? I roasted my first marshmallow over an open campfire, sleeping under the stars, looking at the stars at 3AM, wondering what time do the bugs finally go to sleep, waking to a fire that keeps us warm on cool summer mornings. Exploring the area that we didn't know was around us. Being close enough to home to spend another night and get supplies for another day camping.

August started another school year and time for me to find a part time job. I started working at Duracell, or as I preferred to call it Durahell. I hated that place, but I stayed 6 weeks longer than I thought I would!

The boys started a new school year. Eric in 8th, PJ in 5th. Yes, next August I am putting one in High School and the other in Middle School. Check in on me that day, I don't know how well I will handle all of this.

September was a turning point in all of our lives. Chuck rededicated his life to Christ. 20 years running the other way, he was hit between the eyes with that Christ is the only way. And when he turned around, he turned around big time. On fire for Christ, willing to give up everything to spread the Word to the lost and the hurting. Mission work has been put on his heart. God will move him and use him in the way that He sees fit for all of us.

I got a new Bible, Chuck wanted so badly to buy one for me, but money was tight and he couldn't get the one that I wanted. So, he called my dad and they went out and on the 42nd anniversary of the death of my mother, I received something for my new life in Christ. A beautiful Thompson Chain Reference Bible, with my name on it.

Chuck's life turning around has affected the entire house. Getting up early to read and to pray. Prayer at the table, the boys reading their Bibles, the music in the house. We are living fo Christ and it shows in all that we do in our lives.

October brought more changes to our home. I started to work as a server for Pizza Hut, the one that Chuck ran for 2 years, the one that he left at the end of January. I did that for a reason, so that way I could help with the business and that I can still be home if needed.

October also brought a surprise to all of us. PJ's salvation! My first Wednesday night working, PJ got saved!

November left me wanting more. I went to an amazing Ladies Retreat. The church paid my way, I didn't want them to, but they did. I loved it. I think the blessing that I received most was that the church gave so much for me to go.

Eric had the chance to go to the youth trip. Someone backed out after paying the full price, and Eric was available to go. Wow! We have been so blessed to be in a church that blesses others, no matter who you are.

We also became members of Clingan Ridge Baptist Church, and with that was the baptism of Chuck and the boys. An amazing night, unexpected night too. The words that Chuck had to share touched so many lives. Not his words, but HIS words!

December is here and nearly done. I barely got Christmas going, but I made it. A little bit less than what we usually have. But I have more than money can have given to me. I could care less if there was one package for me. I received more this year than I really deserved. A Christian home, a life that Christ has given me, the salvation of my baby, their baptism. So what if someone gets a new phone, an iPod, gift cards. I have life in Christ and I know that I will be in glory one day with all of them.

On December 12th, Chuck and I celebrated the date of our first date, 20 years ago. WOW! Thanks for forgetting the donut Sweetie!

That is it in a nutshell.

2010 brings us things that we know will be here. For me, Eric turns 15, PJ turns 11. Out 20th anniversary. Chuck's mission trip to Jamaica, the first of many we hope. Hopefully another full year with our parents. Time to draw closer to God, as He draws nigh to us. A time to read through the Bible and to share Christ with the lost.

I will be 43 next year, and for all those years behind me, I am grateful for where I have been. But I am not looking back any longer. Forward I will go.

May your 2010 be more than what you expect it to be. Remember to keep God right there in the center of your life.

Hugs from me to you!

Our business

2009-09-07T13:25:00.000-07:00

Clearview Cleaning and Lawns has been in business for 6 months now and we have seen our share of things.

Like I mentioned earlier, we slowed down big time, but as soon as we both went back to work, the phone hasn't stopped ringing.

We have a nice customer base and we keep getting referrals from our customers. Word of mouth is the cheapest form of advertisement.

I think we have really seen all that we possibly can see. When we first got the magnets for the truck, a lady pulled beside us and asked for a card. We hadn't heard anything from her for months and then all of the sudden, I am there every Saturday helping her clean her house. Lovely lady, but she is a hoarder and there is a lot to clean. She pays well and is a blessing to be around. So, I can't complain.

We have picked up a few house keeping jobs too. I prefer the house cleaning jobs. And if we get 10 more cleaning jobs, I can quit Duracell! So, anyone locally, if you know of anyone at all, let them know about us. We start at $65 - $75 for cleaning houses, we do it all, wipe the top of the doors to the top of the showers, change sheets and make beds too. Clean windows and stoves if need be. Vacuum, mop and dust everything too.

There was one week that we were double booked several days. Chuck would be one place and I would have to be at another. Not bad, a little hard, but it pays off in the long run.

So, while I have been at work with Duracell, Chuck has been taking over the business part of it. He had to hire someone 2 days last week because it was work that he couldn't do alone. That is fine with me, he needed the help and I couldn't be there. However, when it came to Scott's Furniture store windows, he had to do that alone. And that is a huge job, 48 windows, 84x63, inside and out!

We are hoping that next year we grow more. We reached a goal this year that we didn't expect to reach.

Finding work

2009-09-07T13:05:00.000-07:00

Finding a job has been very hard on me. Considering that I have applied to about 100 places, and no one wants me makes it even harder. I was getting very depressed for a period there, life was getting to me.

Our business slowed down considerably during the summer. We didn't take into consideration the vacation time. So, that is when we came to a halt! But it has picked up and picked up nicely. And, of course, when Chuck went back to Pizza Hut part time in Dalton, and I found a job, the phone hasn't stopped ringing.

I have found a job, I started at Duracell, through a Staffing Agency, last week. In a nutshell, I hate it. I hate factory work, I hate the work, I hate the job. What else can I say? I don't see the glamour in the job. People look at me and tell me how lucky I am that I got on at Duracell. I don't see it. I was hired through an agency and I don't get the starting pay that Duracell offers for the entry level position, not even close. But it is a job and it will help with the bills.

I have found that if I make a list of prayer requests and needs, I stand there in front of the conveyor belt and I pray. On my break, I go over my list, I see who I have already prayed for and who is left. It makes my day go by faster and it makes it a little more tolerable. Not much, but some.

I had an interview with Jones Mgmt last week. I will find something out Tuesday if I have this job or not. Pay is a bit better, but they bonus every month, that is nice. It is an internet lending job. Basically it is a pay day advance over the computer.

Chuck put it nicely today, Jones Mgmt job take advantage of people in bad circumstances, CFA staffing, the people that put me with Duracell, takes advantage of people in bad circumstances.

The Jones Mgmt job has crummy hours, 11-8 and every other Saturday 10-2. I don't like the hours, I would miss my family, but it gives me the chance to get into interviews in the morning and not after 4pm.

The Duracell hours are 7 -3:30, I can't complain, I am up anyways. But by the time I get home, my body hurts. I get up every morning thanking God for a job to go to, for something that He has provided for the time being. But it is something that I just am not cut out for.

School Starting

2009-09-07T12:53:00.000-07:00

School started Aug 12th for the boys. WOW! Summer flew by and before I knew it, I was buying school clothes and supplies again.

Taking Eric to 8th grade orientation was just a shock to my old system. Where has the time gone to? What happened to my sweet little boy that would grab the step stool to help make brownies? Well, he is now taller than me, and it seems that I am the one that needs the step stool more than he does.

PJ walked to his last first day of elementary school with his best friend, Leo. So, I missed out on that too. Once again, time flew by. It seems like just yesterday that I was putting him in Kindergarten. But after 9 years of elementary school, we are ready for the next step. Check with me next year, when I am putting one in high school and the other in middle school.

So far, so good with school. Eric still remains on medicine to help with his ADD/ADHD. Thank goodness for a Dr that knew what to do and for a medicine to help him succeed in school.

Eric is very much interested in Forensics and is looking forward to the Crimnal Justice classes at the high school. He is leaning more and more towards UT in Knoxville to work at that Body Farm. You look it up!

PJ is doing better in school. Of course all of that comes after a very long and very nice talk with his teacher about PJ's talking and lack of effort. And then the teacher had to have his gall bladder removed and has been out for 2 1/2 weeks. School just started! HA HA HA !

Our day starts when Eric's alarm goes off at 5:45 and ends somewhere around 11. It makes for a very long day, but such is life.

I am so behind

2009-09-07T12:52:00.000-07:00

Gosh, I don't even know where to start. I have to blog because I have left you all out of the loop on life itself. Plus, I have been without my computer for weeks and I forgot my password!

So, bit by bit I will catch you all up on life and how it has been going. So, hold on, I will blog today.

Day 4 - Our Trip Home

2009-07-23T13:47:00.000-07:00

We slept later than the other mornings. It was a cold morning, but this time we had all the clothes to keep us all warm. Nearly everyone had cleared out Sunday, so we pretty much had most of the place to ourselves. So, I was in no rush to leave anytime soon.

Now, if you remember I mentioned that there were only 3 showers stalls. The past 2 mornings I got stuck with the one that had an opening for air, it was cold. The water was luckwarm at best. And in these places the water turns off by itself. This morning I was going to get the good shower and I was not leaving until I did. I got to the bathrooms and I got the good shower, little did I know that this shower actually had HOT water! Woo Hoo!

We ate breakfast and started loading up the truck. Taking everything down may be easier than setting everything up, but getting everything back into a box or bag, that doesn't work well. We swept up our mess, made sure the fire was completely out, loaded the rest up and headed out. Stopped for a quick cup of coffee and we were on the road home.

Eric wanted to stop at Benton Shooters Supply, we aren't out this way much, so why not take a pit stop and look around. I could care less about guns and hunting, but they are boys and they wanted to look. And of course, I had to show them that their old mom still knows how to handle a rifle. Shocked them, but I think it shocked me more!

There was one spot that I wanted to see before going home. Nancy Ward's grave (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nancy_Ward). I have been in Cleveland for the most of of 20 years, and I have never been there. Nothing special, but her story is interesting. It is a part of the Cherokee history, so stopping to see it and read about it is a good thing for the boys to learn.

This cemetery also hold her son, Cheif Five Killer and his uncle.

And finding that information out was a challenge when I got home.

I wasn't ready to go home just yet. I was really hoping that Chuck would take a right and not a left to go home. And he did just that. I love the Ocoee area and I wanted to check out the Parksville Camping area while we were out that way.

And we did just that. The river road is one of my most favorite spots to explore and to just go for a ride. And going to the dam where the boats take off from is cool. So today we got to see just that.

There were a bunch of rafts getting ready to take off to go down the rapids. They go through the steps that need to be followed, show them how to row and show them all they need to do while on the rapids

While we were waiting for the boats to walk down the ramp, we enjoyed the view of the rafters taking off from the dock

While we were waiting, I turned around in time to see a kayaker come down the falls. I didn't have time to get a picture, but it was cool to see what I saw. That must be one hell of a ride!

And there they go!

This first rapid is called Grumpy's Rapid. I guess I would want to tackle it first than at the end when I am too tired. It is the most dangerous rapid that the rafters face. But it is beautiful.

One day I am going down this river! We owe Eric a gift anyways. When he turned 12 he could have gone rafting, but that year was so dry that the rapids weren't worth taking. The following year, Chuck worked all the time, and this year, we are saving what we can with the new business.

We took a ride a little further down the river and then realized that what we were looking for was in the other direction. We went as far down to the welcome center for the Ocoee river and turned around. But we didn't exactly head home.

We turned to check out Parksville Campsite. We were not impressed with the upkeep of the site or the condition of the site, so that is one that we will not be frequenting. I am thinking more on the lines of Harrison Bay State Park. You can set up camp by the river, not have to worry about the river rising and camp there. That is more my speed. A state campground that has glass on the sites, I am not paying for that.

Instead of heading back down the river road to come home, we took Hwy 30 around the mountain. I knew where it was going to come out at, so I wasn't worried about getting lost. This area in Reliance, gives new meaning to "Paddle faster, I hear banjoes." Parts of Deliverance were filmed in this area. If I had to stop and ask for direction, they would look at me and say "You ain't from around here, are ya?" And even though I may be Jersey in some ways, I do not speak like a Yankee anymore. This neck of the woods is extremely backwards, but they are very happy too. This just goes to show that just 25 miles outside of Cleveland, you can find a totally different world.

We passed an amazing old house or church located right before Hiwassee Outfitters. I looked up just in time to see this

I had to make Chuck turn around so that way I could get pictures of it.

But before I could stop and get any pictures, we had to eat due to the fact that it was alreay 1 and we were hungry. So we pulled into Hiwassee Outfitters, a locally owned campground, got the stuff out of the back and take a bathroom break.

I don't usually describe a bathroom, but in this instance, it is a must. I threw the trash out, and opened the door only to see a large pot with a lid, no handle, so therefore no flushing. Basically don't drop anything down there because there is no retrieving it. So, no water, no flush, just a big hole in the ground where everything went to. Interesting experience! Our own campground bathrooms were way more sophisticated than that! No sink to wash hands either, so glad I carry sanitizer with me.

We stopped to get pictures of this amazing house.
I just love black and white of old houses.

Go up to the front door and so badly wanted to get closer, but I knew that with Chuck with me, that was out of the question. Oh well, I do things like that when he isn't with me.

I am thinking this was more of a church or something else, the top doesn't seem to fit in with a house.

We turned around at this Texaco station. So, on our way back, Eric asked for a picture of the old sign.

Now don't you know that the people looked at me and wonder where did I step out of to take a picture of a sign or they were wondering why was I taking pictures of a sign. But it is a part of our trips out, I take the pictures of the things that seem interesting to me. At the end of Hwy 30, we were right at the spot where we had started our day. Time to head home.

This was our vacation this year. This time was only 4 days, but we are looking forward to camping again this year, maybe more than one time.

I loved camping. I had some experiences I never want to have again, but had experiencs that I am so looking forward to having again.

I am 42, never roasted a marshmallow over a campfire, never ever went swimming in cold, clear mountain spring water, never laid on a bed and looked up at the stars at whatever time of the night.

In my papers that I picked up from the Ranger's Station, there was a map of things to do in this area. It may be a drive, but it will be a good thing to do one day. A drive of a few hours is nice to be able to have time with the family. The boys and I love to explore, so why not make the most of a History Exploration. Growing up and going to school in NJ you only learn about the things in the area, I never learned about anything down here until I moved here. It is about time that I take some time and learn about the area that I now call home.

Day 3 - We get to stay one more night

2009-07-23T11:17:00.001-07:00

I was up bright and early! Quiet time is 10 - 6, gates close at 10 and reopen at 8. People are supposed to keep it down starting around 10, but with the group that was beside us, quietness was nearly impossible.

At 6:40, I was up and ready to face another wonderful day. I also wanted to hit the showers early due to the fact that there are only 3 showers stalls. Why rush though? No hot water!

I got done with the shower only to sit around the campfire to stay warm. Once again, I was the smart one, I knew what to pack. Everyone else was in shorts, closing in ever so close to the fire.

I find it funny that this late in July we are building campfires to stay warm. But it is so enjoyable, especially those mornings that you can see your breath.

This particular morning the campers next to us was frying bacon, that is A LOT of bacon! Along with pancakes! It smelled so good in comparison to the Cinnamon Toast Crunch that we were partaking in. And after eating, we did head out for the much needed cup of coffee, I can only do without so much at one time. So, coffee was not the thing I was going without any longer.

We got back from our trip to get coffee and Chuck and Eric take off to go home to get other things and to go to the store for more food. So, PJ and I were there to go to the river, early in the morning. I packed my chair, camera, coffee and took off to enjoy the stillness of this river, to enjoy the smell of the air that comes with the river and woods.

After about an hour, we headed back to camp. This time of day the water is ice cold, and PJ is swimming in it! I get this message when I get back to camp, "Get a fire going, leaving WalMart in a few with lunch." Now exactly who was that message for? I didn't think he was talking to me, because this old girl never started a campfire in her life! But I did the best I could, I had a general idea because I was watching Chuck over the past few days. I got a small one started, but it did not get hot enough for lunch. Hey I tried!

I noticed that Chuck brought back sweats and sweatshirts, sweats for PJ and sweatshirt for Eric. They must have been cold at night! Since they were gone and no one could protest, PJ and I put the canopy on the tent. Not that I haven't enjoyed the nights looking up at the stars when I couldn't sleep, or listening to the night bugs sing their lullabye, but my nose has been cold enough. Besides, I could open the windows if needed. We had been the only ones without a canopy on the tent and I really thought it needed to go on. If it had rained in the middle of the night, we would have been in trouble.

I decided to go back to the river with PJ. Took my chair, get my suit on, grab a towl and took off with PJ. This time we got to the river before it got too high. I did go in for a little while. But walking on rocks with flip flops is not easy. PJ walked around some, showed me how to skip rocks and had fun. We spotted people tubing down the river. That looked like fun and next time I am going to do that!!!

But when I got out of the water, I watched it slowly rise, I had to move my chair 3 times due to the rising water. It is such a gradual rise, if you don't pay attention, you won't notice it. One little girl put it nicely, "Look Daddy, there are the bubbles." That means that it is on the way.

I watched PJ closely and I saw a little boy get swept away, but caught right before he got too far. There were a lot of adults around, so I took my eye off of PJ occasionally. The current was so strong that even on the boat dock you would get knocked over quickly. But this time I didn't have to watch the kids that didn't have parents with them, I did that once and won't do it again. But there are some that don't ever go down to the river with their kids, maybe that explains why there were some trying to ride their bikes across the river.

Chuck mentioned that the Ranger's Station had the snakes from the night before on display. And that they had molds of animals footprints, pelts and other things that are in the woods in that area. So, I decided that I was going to go. Eric had already been and you never know the mood that PJ would be in. But when I mentioned it, they wanted to go and check it out too. I had been up there earlier and the doors were locked. Eric caught one of the Rangers and asked about it, he told us to knock next time. So, we headed back up there and the same Ranger was there, so he opened the doors for us. If I had known they were closed I would have gone back on Monday morning.

We looked around at the things they had there. The Ranger showed PJ the snakes and told them about them. We also saw the pelts of deer, rabbits, skunks, beaver, fox, coyote and raccoon. The foot molds were neat! Eric held up the black bear mold to PJ's face, it covered his face.

While I was there I grabbed a bunch of information. I figure since we have all this stuff, we can explore our area. Maps, brochures, and even coloring books.

Dinner, like lunch was cooked over the campfire. It was wonderful! The place pretty much cleared out during Sunday. It was nice to have one night that was quiet. We built a huge fire, roasted marshmallows, talked and just sat around.

It was another peaceful evening. Now this time I was looking up at the tent canopy and not the stars. The bugs weren't as loud as what they had been. BUT we were warmer! Our last night camping for a few weeks, oh well, I had a great time!

Day 2 - A day of exploring

2009-07-21T08:10:00.000-07:00

Sleeping outdoors wasn't so bad, looking at the stars through the tent roof, listening to the bugs chirp and trying to figure out when did the one chirping bug goes to sleep, listening to the owls in the distance and wishing for a bathroom that was close by at 3AM.

But waking up and sitting outside to eat, when everyone else is asleep, is rather peaceful. And considering I am usually the first one up, I enjoy the time alone, and I knew that it would be a while until the others woke up.

Our day started out like any other day. Cold showers, no coffee, cereal for breakfast and smelling the bacon cook in the camp next to us for those 40 people or so. That was a lot of bacon and it smelled really, really good!

But Chuck and I took off for some coffee and headed to a corner store to look for some more firewood. A small bag of cheap wood cost about $4, and it wouldn't burn very long, that would be a lot of money for a lot of wood. So, on our way back we took the road straight to explore the area some. Along the way, looking for wood for a fire. You can harvest wood as long as it is dead and on the ground. I understand that, they don't want you cutting down the trees that are green, this preserves the woods. We found quite a bit, what I thought would make it through a few days was only enough for 1 good fire. We drove for a while, picked up what we could fine and headed back to camp to make our morning fire. It still was very chilly in the mornings.

Now I know we are in the middle of July, but the weather has been fantastic. Low humidity, cooler temps, some rain on Friday. A fire is definately needed for the nights and the early mornings, that is how cool it was getting.

We found out about Gee Creek Falls when the Ranger came and got some more information about the search and rescue. So, we decided to head out there for a nice walk. Over the river, no lie, drove right through it, and through the woods, we are at the dead end and the beginning of a long walk. What the Ranger failed to tell us was how rocky the trail was and how steep the trail got in some places.

The walk was rough and on any hotter day, this would not be a trip that I would want to be taking. But considering the weather was like it was, why not go for a hike, uphill.

We walked and walked, as to what we were told a mile, turned out to be a lot longer than that. We looked at all kinds of things, plants, bugs, wilderness and water.

We came to a bridge, that crossed over a flowing stream, stopped to take in the view and to take some pictures too.

We got to a point and noticed that the trail went straight up. Now with Chuck's left knee and my right ankle, there was only so much more we could have done. So, we decided it would be best to turn around and head downhill. We know that uphill is hard, but going downhill on those rocks, that was difficult, but it was a great walk and we saw some beautiful water and rocks.

As we headed back to camp, over the river and through the woods back, we searched for more firewood, hey, if it is free, and if you are willing to pick it up, and break it, then it is worthy of being thrown into the fire.

We get back to camp, try to enjoy lunch with all the flies, no mosquitos, but flies galore. Sit back and see what else we wanted to do that day. That is the nice thing about camping, sitting around reading, listening to music, meeting new people, that is all part of it.

And this is when PJ finds a new friend and wants to go to his birthday party. This little boy is as redneck as they come, lives in the backwoods of Polk County and is extremely backwards. Let me fill you in on how redneck this little boy is, they forgot the birthday candles, and his aunt insisted that they use lit cigarettes as candles. Nice, huh?

But PJ wanted to go, they were on the other side, behind us, so I knew where he was at. Kids run all over the place here, ride bikes, go for walks and learn how to hang out with other kids and their families. In the end, they come back to camp, go home and remember a friend they had for a few days. This keeps them busy and most of the time makes them appreciate the family that they do have. Another trip to the river with the partiers and back to camp for a little while.

As I mentioned before, the camp next to us had about 40 people with more coming in just for a few hours. But it got a little irritating when people started to park in our site. The pickup truck is hard enough for me to drive as it is, but manuevering around and SLK MB, yeah, I don't think so! They weren't loud or obnoxious, it was just the fact that there were so many of them. Behind us was about 4 people, relatively quiet, cute little dog, radio playing from the truck. OK, with me, as long as it doesn't go into the night, I don't care. PJ's little friend, Preston, made a comment, "Y'all are lucky, you get some kind of music." I told him that we each have an MP3 player and we have our own music that we like to listen to. He was surprised to hear that we each had one and then he spotted Chuck's iPhone, shook his head. The boys have a cell, I have a BlackJack, the kid thought we were rich.

Preston has 5 sisters and 1 little brother. And PJ was over there a lot and noticed that the dad was there, but no mother. So, PJ asked, "where is your mother?" Preston hesitated some and then came out with this, "Well, I might as well tell ya, she is in Bradley County Jail." Nice, I felt bad for the kid. The tent was a tarp and they were eating out of the side of a utility truck. Puts things in perspective.

I really liked Gee Creek Campsite because of the things to do. A playground, a badminton set, volleyball and place for the kids to ride bikes. The boys took off to play some badminton. Somehow or another I got sucked into playing too, with a camera around my neck. It was Eric against PJ and me, Eric won.

This time dinner was cooked over a campfire. Hotdogs over a campfire, how much better can life get! And after dinner was some exploring that I wanted to do.

Earlier in the day we took the gravel road up to a point and then turned around. I decided that I wanted to go up a bit more. A new area, I want to see all that is around me. This was a very narrow road and I didn't know where I was heading, so I had to pay attention, and not look around like I prefer to do. Miles up from civilization, a few campsites later, I turned around. It was getting late and there was something I wanted to do with PJ, plus I had to go to the bathroom. I took the time to take a few pictures on the way back down.

This was from the bridge that I went over and then turned around to come back down the mountain.
I plan on going up higher next time we go out there, the temperature was about 9 degrees cooler. I passed several people that was parked on the side of the road, either fishing or camping, passed a shooting range too. But I want to see more, and early in the day is so much better, I don't like being someplace in the dark and not know where to go.

I cross over the train tracks, and get stuck behind this . He was stopping everyone coming into this part of the Cherokee National Forest. I guess because it was getting late and didn't want people that didn't know their way around to get up there and get lost. I understand this, but I really had to go to the bathroom and I had to boogie.

While I was waiting, so very patiently, I took this picture.

These flowers were everywhere and I had a chance to take one without the boys asking why I was taking pictures of flowers.

I got back just in time for us to go to the Park's presentation of snakes. Three times a day the park does some kind of activity. Saturday's presentation was Outdoor Survival, Snakes, and some kind of hiking trip. Considering I had done my fair share of hiking, I opted out of that one. But I wanted to see the snakes. So, Chuck, PJ and I headed off to the show. Eric, being your typical teen decided he would rather swing or play on the ladybug than go see a snake show.

The Ranger showed some snakes and talked about them. Found out that in East TN there aren't any poisonous water snakes and only 2 venomous snakes. Copperheads do go in the water, but they don't live there. And the East TN Rattlesnakes. We also learned that snakes are protected and it is illegal to kill a snake. Why? you may ask. Well, I will tell you why. People for the most part are afraid of snakes and when they see them, they tend to kill them. But we need snakes, like the Black Rat snake , to control the rodents. And the corn snake , also to control the rodents. Ok, I understand this, but I don't want to come face to face with any snake.

The Ranger let everyone pet them, Chuck and PJ did , I decided not to. But I did learn how to pet one though. Pet from head to tail. If you pet the other way, it is like someone bending your fingernails backwards, and it opens them up to disease and infection. Interesting, huh?

The night got cool quickly, I was smart enough to pack my flannel pink cloud pjs. Everyone else had shorts and Tshirts and here I am all nice and cozy! But Chuck had a nice fire going and it was great to enjoy it.

Chuck had gone out earlier to find more firewood, this time he came back with a root! Looking for firewood is so much better than paying for it, more exploration for me!

Roasted marshmallows, , finished a good book, trying to talk Chuck into another night. No one was ready to go home just yet.

Bedtime this time was later. Closed the windows this time, but left the canopy off. I wasn't nearly as cold as what I was the night before, still got to star gaze in the middle of the night and listened to the bugs before falling asleep.

Gee Creek Camping, here we come!

2009-07-20T15:48:00.000-07:00

We left after my interview on Friday morning. I think I was so excited that I really didn't want to wait any longer.

So, we loaded up the truck with everything. Who would have thought that everything would fill up the bed of a full size pickup truck. Even the backseat was full!

We finally leave and realize that we forgot the plates. Ok, stop in Benton at Fred's, get plates and bowls. Got overcharged and had to wait for that to be fixed. Realized we forgot the hotdogs, go across the street to the IGA. We tend to forget that just a 20 miles outside of Cleveland that the culture is just a bit different. Saying uncivilized isn't nice, but very close.

Chuck went into the IGA, 2 men in front of him was having problems with the credit card machine and the cashier had no clue how to work it either. So, he calls the manager to help him. This isn't the worst of what Chuck witnessed. The next man gets to the cashier, pays with a $20, the cashier looked at him and said (no lie) "I ain't got no change." Call the manager again. Chuck gets up there and they overcharged him .80 for the hotdogs. OK, no biggie, this would have caused all kinds of problems and he decided not to worry about it. If the cashier doesn't know how to work a credit card machine, doesn't know how to speak correctly, then he wasn't going to worry about the money. Finally we get going, this should have been a sign of the way the rest of the day was going to be.

We arrived around 12:15 at Gee Creek and find a spot that we all could agree on. Now, I wanted a spot that was secluded and closer to the river, away from everything. That is the reason we went camping. Chuck picks the one closer the the bathrooms and I am glad he did. I hit the showers first and I don't have to start the truck in the middle of the night to find the bathroom. The only problem with this site, the camp next to us filled up with about 40 people and 8 is the maximum.

We get the truck unloaded.

Chuck and I get the tent set up and then fill the air mattresses. Yes, I know I was supposed to be "roughing" it, but if I have to sleep outside, it will be in comfort!

This was the view that I was forced to look at while here.

So, we get the tent set up, filled the mattresses, get everything made up and eat lunch.
The very first thing that the boys want to do is head to the river. Change clothes and head out to the Hiwassee River for some swimming.

The water was amazingly clear and so very cold. This lovely babbling river was perfect. Flat rocks to skip across the river, minnows and baby trout swimming close to the dock. It was so shallow that we could walk across the river if we wanted to. The rocks hurt! So we set up the chairs to relax and enjoy it.

We headed back to camp and the boys played on the playground, yes, Eric rode the ladybug. After loading the truck, unloading the truck, setting up camp, we sat back and relaxed for a while before getting dinner going. The boys wanted to head back to the river, so we let them for a little while. Eric took off with his bike, PJ walked beside him as they went down for a swim.

We sat back listening to our MP3 players and just enjoyed the quietness of nature. I decided to take a nice little walk, you know, check on the boys. This is where the day turns upside down for me.

Now some of you know bits and pieces of the story, but I will give you now the full account, as best as I can remember.

I head to the river and notice that the water had risen to a degree that was much higher and way faster than what I seen before. The currents were rushing faster than what I expected. I see that Eric's bike is out there by the tree, but neither boy is to be found. I yell and yell for them, but get nothing in return.

I hop on Eric's bike and race back to camp. Trust me, by the time I got back to camp, I was sucking wind! I was going as fast as my legs would take me, they gave out once on me, but I had to get there as fast as I could. I get back to tell Chuck, and this is what I get, "Calm down dear, they are fine. Don't worry about it." He doesn't know what I saw, and he didn't realize that I didn't take Eric's bike. Hence, I am going for a walk. He wanted to head back to see if we could find them. We did and nothing, no sounds, no one that was our children. I headed up the one trail, praying all the way, Please God don't take them from me now, and I don't know where Chuck went to, but all I know is that I came out of the trail and there was Chuck, "get in the truck." By now I am a nervous wreck, trying not to cry, but sometimes that doesn't work well.

We head to the Ranger's Station and Chuck explains to them what happened. She came out asking for descriptions, I can't even describe how I felt giving descriptions of my boys to someone. We described them and the search began.

We check the site, no boys, and head out to the river, no one there either. Once all the rangers were filled in, we had people asking us if they could help locate the boys. Now, at this point, I wasn't going to be any help to anyone, so the people stayed with me, and the others went on the search. This one woman got on her bike and was calling their names. Chuck was right behind her and he heard PJ laughing. All I remember is hearing that they found them, not yet knowing if they were ok or not, I had to ask that. A sense of relief washed over me that I nearly passed out. The Ranger told us they had to get a boat to get them, the water wasn't deep at all.

They were close to land, but just couldn't find a place that they couldn't climb up and get out. When Chuck took me to the spot, we had some kids offer to go in and show them how to get out. But since we already had the Rangers out looking for them, we told them that we appreciated it, but no. The next thing I remember is the boys coming down the path, right to the boat ramp to me. I couldn't be more relieved!

As we found out from Eric, PJ wanted to go swimming. We know that Eric would not swim in that water, he would have gone hiking instead. But, PJ being head strong, insisted that they go swimming. He lost his boogie board, because he did not want to put it on his wrist, then his shoe came off because he didn't want to put his Crocs on the right way, floated under a log and it was then that Eric realized that he had to save his brother. Eric was more concerned about saving PJ and not himself. He knew we would come, but they kept walking until they got to a point that they could climb and find a way out.

For me, this was an ordeal that I don't ever want to go through and I hate that any mother ever had to go through a missing child. It felt as if a part of me was torn out. The most horrific experience ever in my life.

Thankfully our boys are fine and only a few bruises and scratches. Mostly on Eric, but still, that is all that happened to them.

We headed back to camp for some dinner and relaxing after the ordeal. Chuck and Eric headed out after dinner for some firewood. We didn't see the pits when we came out to check out the sites, if we did, we would have packed wood with us.

Now I mentioned marshmallows to Chuck, I love roasted marshmallows and never cooked them over an open campfire, so, I was excited about him picking them up. They were out!

We got a small fire going and really enjoyed the it while resting. And then Chuck comes out around the corner with marshmallows on a stick!! I was so excited!

Early bed time for all of us, it was that kind of day! Sometime during the night, I couldn't sleep. I already had to go to the bathroom, and was cold. So while trying to fall back to sleep I was looking at the stars through the tent roof. Chuck insisted on not putting the canopy on, this may explain why I froze that first night. Around 4 or so, I heard the boys talking to each other, I made sure they knew it was too early and to go back to sleep.

I finally woke up around 7, hit the showers and start on our Saturday.

Our July 4th Fishing Expedition

2009-07-04T12:00:00.000-07:00

This is the first year that Chuck and I are not having to work on July 4th. So, we decided to make the most of the day.

We got up early and made breakfast. I got the boys up, PJ got up and dressed without a complaint about the early hour. Eric on the other hand, "It's only 6:21!" Yeah, well, if you want to go fishing, you get up early.

We got out of the house by 7 and on the road. The fog was heavy, but the air was night and light. No humidity that early, no one on the road at that time either.

We went to the same spot as we did the last time, the northwest end of the Hiwassee River. The water wasn't as clear as it was where we were the other day. This is a boat ramp and it gets a lot of junk in the water too.

We get there and all set up, we tried artificial bait first

and Chuck went to retrieve his misplaced hook, line and sinker.

He finally got it back

PJ took his usual place on the dock, Eric was at the other end. Somehow I end up in the middle.

For a while, Eric and I had one little bait stealer. Fast too. Before we knew it, something took off with all the bait on the hook. We finally did catch it, at the end of the day, Eric's last fish.

Now, I won't bait my hook. I don't care how much fun it looks, I won't do it. So, I recruit Eric to help me with it

I caught the most today, 6 total for me, 12 total for all of us. I caught a few Blue Gill and then this grabbed a hold of my hook and took off swimming.

Most of the day was pretty quiet. It was morning and there were lots of boats out on the water, and lots more heading out. So, the day wasn't as good as the last time we went.

At one point this is what we hear from PJ, "I caught something and I can't reel it in!" Ok, this is shallow water, we know there isn't a killer fish out there, and everything else we caught the last few times have been small Blue Gill or small Big Mouth Bass. But, noooo, he had to out do me, he caught a Big Mouth Bass

He used artificial bait with this, like he knew what he was doing. The hook got caught in the gill, and the fish nearly swallowed the bait. It impressed me how Chuck got the bait out before it got swallowed

Yep, that is a keeper!

We brought our basket with us to hang in the water, tied it up to the dock and hoped for a few more for dinner.

The rest of the day was rather dead, rather aggravating too. We tried worms and artificial bait, a few Blue Gill and that was about it.

But one boater came in and asked us if we were fishing for food. Chuck told him that we have one, but if we didn't get another it was going back. They offered us their 2 that they caught, it wasn't enough for them, but they were gonna throw them back. We took them. Two very nice size bass. The one took PJ for a boat ride around in front of us, he loved it, and then back to fishing.

I think I missed one bass because I wasn't paying attention to the bobber, I was cleaning up my tangled fishing line. Oh well, it happens.

Our day was coming to an end, it was noon and we were hungry. I started cleaning up when Chuck pulls this one up

The first time catching a catfish with worm and hook. It was a little too small, so it went back

But he did think about keeping it.

One last try to get rid of the bait and up comes our bait stealer. Fiesty little thing too.

It was time to go. Too many boats around us to really catch anything else. It was nearly 1 and lunch passed us by. Time to go home and clean fish.

I let Chuck do all that. He cleaned them, gutted them, washed them out and I put them in the freezer. We have 3 very nice size bass for dinner when we catch another one.

I love fishing and the time that we are spending with the boys. There are so many slef-absorbed parents, they only have time for themselves and they seem to forget about the kids.

I would much rather be like we are now, paying the bills, spending good quality time with the boys, then to be working to the point we were working, 70 hours a week for Chuck, who knows the hours that I was gonna work, have the money to buy whatever we want, but no time with the boys. We have to have our priorities straight, we had kids to be parents to, not just someone that comes in and they only see for a few hours a week, or someone they only talk to 7 minutes a week.

This is why we did what we did, started a business to be on our own, but to be parents to our children.

Trip out to a campsite

2009-07-02T13:18:00.000-07:00

As you all know, we are planning on a camping trip for a vacation this year. So, we decided that we wanted to check out a site that someone had mentioned to us.

Hiwassee/Ocoee area, Gee Creek. It is about 6 miles north of Benton, in the Delano area. I know this area because this is where the Amish Farm is at, actually taking a left would lead us there, taking a right would take us to the campground.

We took off to the right, and drove down this lovely little quiet road. It was so pretty. Ended up in the camping area. Now, this time of year, we did expect it to be full, all of these sites are first come, first serve. But there were several that were empty.

We drove around the campground and all the sites have a grill and table. Some were set a little more under the trees than others. There were heated bathrooms, a play ground for the children and the kids can ride bikes all around the area. Very family oriented place. Quiet and seemed very relaxing.

On our way out we took another turned and ended up at the Hiwassee River, the same river that we were fishing at. But way down the other end. This was a more quiet area, clearer water, colder water, and shallow water. I loved it.

I loved seeing kids riding bikes, in the playground, playing in the water, taking hikes. Something that you don't see anymore, anywhere.

That is what vacation is, time away, no computers, no phones, just bikes, grills, books and water.

I loved the scenery around here. It was gorgeous. Funny, I live about 45 minutes away from this area and never in the 20 years I have lived here, have never been out there. I didn't even know it was there.

There are several places in the mountains that I haven't been to, and I want to go see this stuff.

This is right now our vacation destination for Summer of 2009 and I can't wait.

Another budget recipe from the TightWad

2009-07-01T15:11:00.000-07:00

We are like mostly everyone else right now. Times are tough, money is tight, grocery shopping has now become a chore, and for me it is 2 day chore. I take time on Sunday to cut coupons and make my list. And then shopping is a bear, I have to write down all the prices, find the discounts, add things up, find the coupons and then check out.

Each week when I do go shopping, I make the list of the dinners for the week. Now being only the 4 us, some meals can be stretched out to 2 meals. I try to do this at least once a week. And generally it is some kind of pasta. Chuck made the Chicken Enchilada with Creamy Green Sauce for Mother's Day, that only last for 1 meal and italics maybe a lunch. bold MAYBE!

The pasta dishes are the ones that can make 2 meals. We can have bread with one to cover all bases. So, that way, I have one less meal to make for us.

With that said, here is my budget meal for this week.

Baked Spaghetti
1 large jar Traditional Ragu (the only reason I use this is because PJ won't eat anything else) BOGO at $1.60 a jar
1 16 oz box Angel Hair pasta. BOGO at .65 a box.
1 2 cup shredded Sargento 6 cheese Italian. 2/$4, so the package cost $2 but there is leftover, so about $1.00 worth from that.
35 pepperoni slices if desired. Package was 2/$6, I bought 1 at $3, with a .35 coupon that got doubled, so $2.30 for the pepperoni. Maybe about .50 for the pepperoni. PJ loves the stuff, he eats it all the time.
Diced onion, diced pepper, and chopped garlic
Salt, pepper, Italian Seasoning (if desired), sugar to reduce acidity (if desired)

Heat oven to 350

Saute onion and pepper until tender, add chopped garlic, do not burn. In medium size pot mix sauce and sauteed veggies. Add desired amount of salt and pepper and any Italian seasonings that you want. I have fresh Basil, oregano, and rosemary. I throw a pinch of sugar to reduce the acid in the sauce.
Simmer on low heat, until warm.

In large pot of boiling water, make pasta. Cook until almost done.

Drain pasta, return to same pot. Mix in about 1/2 pot sauce in pasta. Pour into 9x 13 pan. Spread out evenly in pan.

Pour remaining sauce over top and spread out. Sprinkle cheese and layout pepperoni.

Cover with foil and bake for 35 minutes.

Total cost for this meal, about $5 with onion, pepper, garlic and all seasonings. Now with our family, we all had one serving the first time. Chuck and Eric had a smaller serving and PJ and I split a small serving. We have enough for another meal with bread. Probably about .50/serving.

Can't make dinner cheaper than that. It isn't too bad either. If you don't like meat, take off the pepperoni, if you don't like pork, they have turkey pepperoni, use that as a substitute.

I have gotten to be a penny pincher in these tight times. Even it I was working a full time job, I would still be couponing and budgeting all the meals.

ENJOY!

If you do not wish to get any of the recipes, please let me know. I will be glad to not bother you.

If you are more organic than I am, you can use your own sauce. I prefer that, but because of PJ not wanting it, I buy Ragu.
If you prefer whole grain, use the Healthy Harvest pasta or the Harvest Mill pasta. This is good for the people that cannot eat white flour.

My Friend's Wedding

2009-06-29T16:31:00.000-07:00

I went to a wonderful wedding this past weekend. We had a blast. But I want to give a little bit of information before I go on about the wedding.

Chris was a student at the Seminary when I worked there. He came up a few years ago to check out the school and then he decided, after much prayer and consideration, that he would be attending.

Over my time there, he and I became good friends. We talked all the time, about everything from church to cooking. I know that I had lots of friends there, but he was one that was more like a brother to me. He put me in my place a few times too. He is also one that remained my friend after I was terminated.

Last year at a grad party that we both went to, I noticed something a little different about him. He told me that he met someone and was looking for a ring. I wasn't surprised, I knew that someone was going to come into his life and turn him on his heels. And that is exactly what happened.

Come to present day. June 27th, he and Miriam got married. What a wonderful ceremony! I haven't seen 2 people so much in love like that in a long time. Two wonderful people, they deserve each other.

I really wonder who he was talking to......

Now, I try not to cry at weddings. Only if they were my own or someone close to me. I cried. Chris cried, and I think that set me off.

Very sweet ceremony, very touching ceremony too. They wanted all to join in and light a candle with them. I have been to 2 weddings this year, and the communion and ministers praying over the one couple and this really made the moment right.

This was located in the mountains of North Georgia. Very nice drive, got a little lost, made it there on time, took curves a little too fast for a much needed potty break. Got there before the bride walked down the aisle.

The scenery was gorgeous,
the chapel was amazing, the humidity was oppressive! The company was fantastic, the reception was a BLAST!

Now on our way back up to the sitting area before going inside, they happy couple came outside for some pictures. I caught some very nice shots, but this tickled me, check out the flip flops!

They provided a very nice spread outside before we got to go inside. Fruit, veggies, tea and water. Then we finally got to go inside.

The DJ introduced them and they had their first dance.

After she danced with her daddy
and he danced with his mother, the DJ annouced that before it got too hot, all happy couples come out and dance, all couples come out and dance. This is what I got, "Mommy, may I have this dance?" What was I supposed to do? Very touching moment for me.

This caught my eye and before the evening was out, I had shed my hose, tossed them and put on a pair of dancing shoes!

Why not have a good time! And we did just that. And with Chuck not going, I had to dance with PJ. Not a bad thing either!

I love weddings, I love how they have changed so much since I got married. The cakes aren't all white

The groom's cake is just as fun as can be, don't care for the Gator, but that wasn't my choice

That you don't have to be so conventional anymore. Things change and it is a nice change. You remember all the bridesmaids had to wear the same dress, not anymore. The cake was white, the food was served to you, it is so different now, and it is fun too.

The tables in the reception area had pictures of the two on them, they didn't have a power point slide show, they had a lovely guest book with pictures of them in it. The tables had flower seed packets in each spot. Little things like that to have you remember their special day as well.

PJ and I went to sign the book and he spotted bubbles. Leave it to him to spot the bubbles. So, we took them back to the table and the photographer caught me blowing bubbles while sitting at the table. I am sure that made a lovely picture.

The blessing from her father

And of course there was cutting of the cake with her Grandmother's wedding set.

Feeding each other, that was cute.

Throwing the flowers

Retrieving the garter

Throwing the garter

And oh yeah, catching the garter, yes that is my son

More dancing with friends

And the bride

A gift from her father-in-law

And finally, the escape to be alone

They are going into the missions. They have plans to go to Korea and other countries. He had this planted in his heart a long time ago and now he has someone to go with him.

We found our way home easily, the short cut that led us there, led us home too.

After a wonderful day, we made it home. A little tired, but so worth it, touched by a tender moment from PJ, and witnessing an amazing love between two very AMAZING people.

The easy part is over for them, but they are on the right track.

Congratulations Chris and Miriam!

Vacation

2009-06-25T14:45:00.001-07:00

This year we opted in not taking a vacation. It wasn't going to work out for the week we always take because of my working, I wasn't going to get paid for vacation either. So, Daytona Beach was out of the question this year. It isn't too bad though, we have had 5 years of family vacations and realized that we will be able to go again next year.

So we decided on something else.

No, we aren't camping in the backyard either. We have decided to not to work around our schedule, but for the schedule to work around us. And we thought camping would be great this year. Four days in one place, four in another, four somewhere else. It may not be "vacation" but it is time away from everything. No tv, no computer, but also, no electricity and not running water either.

This tent is a pretty good size. It sleeps 8, but that would be snug.

There is a divider curtain for each 'room'. We can get a queen size air mattress on both side. Along with pockets for things like books, MP3 players, and phones.

The canopy comes off, for those who haven't been camping in the last 100 years.

It opens to the screen on the top. Which is very nice! All the windows zip down, door window zips open. It is rather roomy inside, lots of light and lots of air moving around.

Along with the tent, we purchased 2 queen air mattresses, 2 battery operated lanterns, 4 chairs, cooking set. A few years ago I found a fold and go grill for Chuck, so we have that and a table that folds up too. I want the shower and changing room, but that may have to be later. We also need a canopy to eat under or to sit under.

Ok, so it may not be the most luxurious of vacations, but A) it will be time away, B) it will be time away from the things in life that we all don't need, and C) we can go whenever we want to, where ever we want to, as many times as we want to. This year our vacation will not be limited to 1 week in 1 certain month. Camping will allow us to go once a month for a few days at a time. It is not just limited to summer, but we can go up until October if we want to.

We have already priced out places to go, we can have waterfront or woods. We can be primitive or go with the water and electric for a little more. We can go where we want and not have to worry about reservations or someone messing up our room.

I am excited. I am excited about getting away from everything in life that we rely so much on. Nothing wrong with a book, chair, water and campfire. That actually sounds like something I may enjoy!

The boys already spent 2 nights in the backyard. Each had their own side, they talked and laughed and listened to the night. They got scared, but stayed outside. PJ came in once to go to the bathroom, never heard him.

I went out the next morning and they were in the same bed. Sound asleep. Ate breakfast and lunch outside. Sat under the tree and relaxed. They are ready for us to put it up again. I have a feeling that they will be spedning most of their summer out there. Fine with me, let them enjoy this time.

Playing "hookey"

2009-06-23T08:58:00.000-07:00

I have to admit that at my age, I had never been fishing in my life. I have been on deep sea fishing boats, never held a rod though.

Yes, I went fishing when my dad took the boys last year, but we didn't know what we were doing and never caught anything but a Christmas tree. So, that wasn't much of a fishing adventure.

One Saturday, Chuck decided that he wanted to take the boys fishing. I stayed back to get some projects done. But I did get updates throughout the morning. 7 fish, 11 fish, 13 fish. All catch and release. Well done! Too bad I wasn't there to see the boys catch their first fish.

That night we went to Wal-Mart and picked up rods for all of us, hooks, weights and worms. And decided to take off the next morning to go fishing.

Now we were up really early. Chuck didn't sleep well and I was up because my legs bother me very early in the morning. So, we head out to Wal-Mart for a few more things, pick up breakfast, head home, wake the boys, eat and off we go! To the same spot they were on Saturday.

The morning was perfect

It wasn't too hot that early in the morning either. The river was empty, the parking lot was full though of SUVs and trucks with boat trailers. So, some where out there, there were a bunch of boats with a bunch of people.

Eric sitting at the dock of the bay

PJ patiently waiting, hogging one of the two chairs.

Chuck with the first of many catches of the day. PJ caught this one

Along with a small mouth bass, a small large mouth bass, a striped bass
and a crappy. The rest of us caught blue gill.

Five hours and 28 fish later we gave up. The boats were coming in from a competition, people were coming in for lunch, and they scared all the fish away. So, after all that, we left for the day.

This is how the poor fish, off the dock. Y'all can have your boats, we had fun with what we had. And we caught more than most everyone that was out on the water all day.

It was so worth playing hookey !

Couponing

2009-06-22T08:34:00.000-07:00

I have found a lot of coupon sites and thought I would share my savings with y'all

Sunday's paper usually has some, but not enough for the savings I have been getting lately. I have a printer, and so glad I do, so I print most of the coupons that I use. It has saved me more than I really expected.

These first few are free online printing.
www.couponmom.com
www.fatwallet.com
www.coupons.com
www.coolsavings.com
www.ultimatecoupons.com
www.couponcabin.com
www.ppgazette.com (this will bring up the circulars from your area)

Most of these you have to give an email and password. I just created a junk account for this and use that. They will let you know when the coupons for the month have been restocked.

Also you can try;
www.bettycrocker.com
www.pillsbury.com
www.kraft.com

Try your favorite manufacture. Malt 0 Meal, Kelloggs, things like that. They will have copuons occasionally. But if you catch them, you can find something. Eight O'clock coffee has an incentive program. You buy their coffee and you can get coupons for free coffee, Visa gift cards or free magazines.

Now there are some out there that you can pay for your coupons. I know, I know, paying for coupons, but if you think about it, that is what you do with your Sunday paper. You buy the paper just for the sale ads, free from Walgreen's, CVS and Rite Aid, for the comics, and for the coupons. I also know it is a $1.50, but if you hit the Dollar Tree, it is just $1. I am so cheap!

The following sites are for a fee:
www.couponsandforms.com
www.thecouponclippers.com
www.thecouponmasters.com

For local coupons, try www.funandfrugal.com

Now for those of you that have a Publix in the area, every Sunday they have their mystery item. It is a penny if you purchase $10 worth of stuff. Sometimes it is a good item, cookies, water, Gatorade, cheese and sometimes it is things like Hamburger Helper. So, for a penny, I will get what they have if I know I will use it.

A lot of the coupons online are buy 2, save $1. Ok, that isn't too bad, but wait and watch when shopping. For example, I had a .60 coupon on Knorr rices. Every week I would go and watch and see if it was buy one, get one (BOGO). Last week it was. COOL! I picked up 2 for $1.35 minus the .60 coupon, I paid .75 for 2 packages of rice. Today I had a coupon for $1.50 off a 2 boxes of Mini Wheats. PJ is a mini wheat freak. BOGO at $4.19, minus my $1.50 coupon, $2.69 for 2 boxes of Mini Wheats, comes out to $1.35 a box.

Most stores in this area will double coupons up to .50, some go up to .60 doubled. Watch your stores, I have seen them triple coupons up to .99. Boy is that a savings!

That is my advice for the week in grocery shopping. Over the past 2 weeks, with coupons and instore savings, I have a little over $60 in savings.

I am learning as I am going along, and teaching the boys while I am at it. Eric went shopping without me 2 weeks ago, he saved $10. Today was $6.79 with coupons and instore savings.

The economy is hitting all of us. Why not try to save with a little more money? It may take a little time, it may take a little of paper and ink. But in the end, it is so worth it!

If you find any sites that I don't know about it, please let me know. I am always looking for bargains!

My Weekly Shopping Experience

2009-06-22T08:09:00.001-07:00

Generally I don't blog about my shopping experience, but this week I have to vent some.

I love Publix. I have learned how to save the money that I need to save by using coupons, watching sales and looking at everything. I don't shop anywhere else because I can save A LOT over at Publix. People say how expensive it is, I don't see that.

So today we get there and, as usual, I hit the deli. The one woman was waiting on someone and told me that she would be right with me. Ok, not a problem, I can wait. But then the deli manager comes out and heads right to the woman that just walked up to the counter. I looked at her, said "Oh nevermind" and started to walk away. She said that she didn't see me, I told her again "Nevermind" and kept on shopping. I wasn't irritated all that much, BUT when Eric overheard them talking about me, well, that was enough. I didn't go over there, I didn't talk to the ladies, I went straight to the manager and told them what happened. I wouldn't have gone to him for the over sight. But talking about a customer, that was wrong and I didn't appreciate it too much.

I told the manager what happened, told them that I can shop in Cleveland just as easy as I do in Ooltewah. I didn't have to shop there, but I liked shopping there. He apologized and took care of it right away.

While I was shopping, the Deli manager found me, apologized and gave me a gift card. Now, I don't like getting things like that, I just am happy talking to the manager about it, and let him handle the situation. But she gave me a $25 gift card for the trouble. I told her that was fine, but as a professional, you do not talk about your customers. I told her that my son heard what you were saying and that was what made me go to the manager. She was very apologetic about all of it, but it was just the way that she handleded it.

I go check out, use my card, get my groceries loaded, give all my coupons to the cashier, and pay the rest. Not bad, $40.64 in groceries this week. But on the way home, I spotted that I was charged $3.99 for heavy cream, the sign said $3.79. Ok,.20 is .20, but that was not the point. I called them, explained to them what happened, she called me back, I was overcharged for something and next week when I go back, I get the product for free. Fine with me, computers mess up all the time.

As for my coupons, I had one for Kool Aid. Save .50 on 10 packets of Kool Aid. Publix doubles the coupons, so that would be $1. Meaning I would get 5 packs free. But the cashier rang up 9, meaning I did not get my savings. I didn't notice this until it was too late. We got home and Eric counted 10, she didn't charge me for the extra, I will pay for it, as long as I get my $1 savings on it.

I guess i need to watch all that goes through the line at the store. I write all the prices down when I am shopping so that way I know what I have spent and what I have left to spend. I head to the store with my clipboard and coupons and list, go from there. I watch all that I spend. We are on a budget and I need to make sure that I don't overspend on junk.

I do save money at Publix, but this week was not a good week for me over there. Cleveland stores are so expensive, sales tax is nearly 10%, and they don't have the service or quality that Publix offers. I do drive a ways to get there, but days like today, I wonder if it is really worth the trouble.

2009-06-15T10:00:00.001-07:00

No it is not me

2009-06-15T09:59:00.001-07:00

Windows, windows and a lot more windows

2009-06-14T17:20:00.000-07:00

We started this business aiming at getting local business windows. That dream quickly faded when we realized that one guy has this town wrapped up. He does so many, that the job that he provides is crap. But he is cheap and he gets it done.

Chuck and I do things a little differently. We don't rush through jobs. We take our time to make sure that the customer is satisfied.

Now we do things differently. We do it right, it may take us longer, but I can promise you, your job is done the way it should be.

We do have 3 businesses in town. But we are aiming more at homes, that is where the money is at.

A few weeks ago we had a job for about 22 windows in a friend's home. She worked with Chuck at the Chevy dealership in town, her dad owns it. She was our first big home window job. It wasn't too bad, we did it in the time that we told her and she was very happy with it. So happy that she referred us to her friend.

We get a phone call from Mr. G., his wife told him to call us right away and have us come out and look at the windows for an estimate. And we were on our way to another window job, so we stopped off on the way home.

This house is in a very nice subdivision in town and I told Chuck that I was hoping it was not the 3 story house off the side of a hill. It wasn't! It was across the street.

We get there and we see 8 windows in the front, 3 on the side and then we get to the back. There is a sunroom with 7 windows. Ok, I think we can handle it. We went inside. In the sunroom was a roof of glass, 14 more windows. Oh wow! But not only that, they added on to the house, there are windows on the inside around the sunroom. All total, 51 windows.

Now, Mr. G. did say that if we can't do the top, don't worry about it. Because if you put too much pressure on the glass, the gaskets break. Chuck thought that he could get to it, but wasn't sure. And he did try, but it streaked badly. So, off I go to get the Windex for outside. And that is what he did, only to find out another window was leaking.

Chuck did all the windows in the sunroom, in 90 degree weather with the sun beating down on him. I did all the outside and then started on the inside. I started in the garage and worked my way inside. When we were there to give the estimate, Mr. G. told us that the panes pop out. Ok, so, I had to deal with that. Trust me, I would rather have that than what Chuck was doing.

I figured out how to get the panes out and then back in. That wasn't easy. I broke the ends off of 2 of them. Nothing really, but when you have to do 30 windows, all with panes in them, your fingers hurt by the end of the day. I popped them out, scrubbed and cleaned the windows, and put the panes back in. One problem, when you have the panes going back in, your fingerprints are everywhere. Dry cloth, wipe down windows again. For everyone one of them!

We told him upfront that this was going to be an all day job. And it was. Like I said, it is one of those that you want to do your best on. But when it started to thunder and lightening, that is when he was trying to get us to hurry. We had one huge window in the front and the half circle that topped it. I couldn't get to it earlier because Chuck was in the back and I wasn't getting on the extension ladder without him.

So, Mr. G. goes and holds the ladder for Chuck while I am cleaning the inside. That was a trick. I am on the ladder inside cleaning one part, while Chuck is cleaning the other side. Don't ever do that!

Ok, so I cleaned 3 doors, inside and out, with the panes that are not removeable. All 30 windows with those stupid panes, and now the front door was last. More little windows with one big one on top. I have to admit, from being there at 7, taking a short lunch and then getting done by about 3, I was exhausted. I know Chuck was too. But this man retired from Olin, he has a lot of friends at the Country Club and of course the people he worked with at Olin. His wife still works, so there can be more contacts there. We know when to do a good job for someone. We do a good job for all of our customers. We do a job like we would want a job done for us.

The sunroom looked wonderful and the rest of the windows did too. Another job well done.... now back in the Fall for pressure washing.

Saving Money

2009-06-03T16:46:00.000-07:00

We are on a budget, just like so many out there. It is a time to watch what comes in and goes right back out.

So, when Bi-Lo had their Crazy 8 sale, I was all over it. Boneless, skinless chicken breasts, $1.88 a pound. Yes, you read that right. Boneless half pork loins, $1.88 a pound. Why not stock up on the stuff and make the most out of what we have.

Chuck and I head to the store and pick up 4 packs of chicken breast, I should have bought more. And then I turn around to see him putting the pork loin in the buggy, not one, but two. Ok, I am sure I can figure something out with them.

I got to thinking about when my dad bought some at Publix. He got the butcher to cut them into chops. Not a bad idea. Here Chuck was thinking 2 meals out of the pork loins, I knew I could get more out of it. So, today, after cleaning windows all day, I came home to cut up the pork loins into chops.

Seven pounds of pork for a little over $13 came out to 5 meals. I cut them into 1" chops, 4 per package. I ended up with 2 smaller ones, that is fine for the boys one day for lunch. $2.60 a meal, .65 per person. I can live with that!

Finding things to make is a challenge. But it isn't like we don't cook. We cook nearly every meal at home. We rarely ever go out to dinner, it just isn't worth it, especially since Chuck and I know we can cook better than some of the things that we eat out.

We have come up with a quesadilla that is really wonderful. Two types of cheese, loaded down with green salsa (2.29 at Mexican store) and my homemade salsa. Topped with sour cream. Served with a side of Spanish rice. It is good, easy to make, filling and cheap.

There is so much more to easy dinners then boxed foods, hotdogs or something of the sort.

Generally on nights that I am not that tired, unlike tonight, I will go ahead and make up dinner for the next night. That way all I have to do is make a phone call and dinner is ready when we get home.

We are very busy, but that doesn't mean the kids have to eat junk and crap for dinners. It just means that we have to be more creative with dinners, figure out exactly how long things take to make too.

Honor's ceremony

2009-06-01T16:36:00.000-07:00

I can't say how tickled I was with Eric and his award that he was going to win.

We got to school a little early and got front row seats. Chuck's parents did get to come, and I know that made Eric happy.

There were so many children getting awards, but I didn't care about all of them, I was only there to see Eric get his award.

Each related arts teacher gave awards to students in their class that A) did well in that class, meaning A's and B) did extra things to help out or C) stood out in the class someway.

Mrs. Dunn was a teacher that Eric did not get along with last year. He would come home everyday of the 9 weeks of her class and complain about her.

This year was different. Eric grew up a little bit and matured some too. He went into Teen Living wanting to learn. They designed their own houses on the computers, learned how to sell them, learned how to read credit reports, learn how to work with the bank. He loved it. He helped other students get started when he was done, he also help the students that were struggling with some things too.

After the 9 weeks was up, he decided that since he was getting to school early, he would continue to help her out. Taking down chairs, turning on the computers, organizing her class. He still got an A in the class, he worked hard when he didn't have to be there, he did the things that the teacher had to find the time for.

She called his name, and I have to admit, mom got a little tearied eyed. He has come so far, he has so much ahead of him. But he has gotten to a point that we never thought we would see. We never thought we would hear his name and Honor's Ceremony in the same sentence.

They called the names for honor roll, students that got A's and B's throughout the entire year. Eric didn't make it this time, he missed it by 2 tenths of a point. One C the entire year. The rest he made all A's, 2 B's and 1 C. I can't complain, considering he barely made it through elementary school.

He told me that he will get honor roll next year. He sets his goals, not too high, but enough for him to reach. He will get there.

Once again, I am so proud of my son. I see where he has been and I see where he is going.

My first cake

2009-06-01T16:17:00.000-07:00

I am trying something new. I don't know if I will be able to do much, but I am trying to learn how to make cakes.

So I thought for my first cake, I would make something for Adrienne's graduation party. I went round and round on what I wanted to make. I thought of half white, half yellow. Well, then I thought that with one pan, one kind of cake would be best.

I went with a sour cream white cake and now what to fill it with. I wasn't sure what I could do, what I could handle, I thought that a buttercream filling would be ok, but I wanted something different.

I went with Strawberry cream filling. I found a recipe online and decided that was what I wanted to do

And a view from the side

Before frosting

So far, so good! Now for the part that really scared me. Frosting the cake. I bought an offset spatula for this occasion. I always wanted one, but never bought one. This time I did. Along with the pan that I got at 40% off.

Let's try and see what happens. I loved it, I love the spatula, it does a great job, too bad I didn't do such a nice job as the spatula did.

And another from the side

Not too bad for my first cake. I was rather pleased with it. Now my mother-in-law did say about 40-45 people. I got to thinking if this would be enough. I had enough frosting left and I had everything for a round cake. So, off I go to the kitchen and make a peanut butter cake. I figured that the 2 cakes together would be more than enough for everyone.

Ok, cakes done ready to box up. But I have one small problem. I didn't cut the board that the cake was on to fit in the box. I cut one way, but forgot to cut the other way. What to do, what to do???

I take off to the bakery, they lied, told me they didn't have anything, when I looked right at one. He told me to go to UPS store, did that, $5.38 plus tax for a box, yeah, I don't think so. Back to Hobby Lobby and pray they have a box. They did, with a window, but it was too big. That is ok, tape always holds things in place. It looked wonderful in the box.

The cake was delicious, not as many people there as originally thought, so we had enough cake for all. I didn't want to go home with the white cake, but I thought that we would go home with some of the peanut butter cake. At first, no one had cut into it, but then some got a taste of it, and it was better than the other cake.

Came home with 4 slices of the peanut butter cake, 8 chicken breasts, salad, rolls, green beans and rice.

Not too bad, we got 3 free meals out of what we ended up bringing home with us and some dessert too.

Adrienne's Graduation

2009-06-01T14:14:00.000-07:00

Chuck's niece graduated from HS on the 14th of May. I have a hard time believing that time has gone by so quickly, before I know it, Eric will be graduating too. Time goes by so fast and if you don't pay attention, you miss out on a whole lot.

The school she went too was the same school that Chuck, Cheryl and Robin graduated from. It is a very small school. The ceremony wasn't anything like the ones in Cleveland, and the ones in Cleveland aren't anything like the ones in places like Miami or NYC. This ceremony lasted about an hour.

This is the entire class. It is nice this way, you know everyone in your class. Not just by passing them in the hallway, you have lunch with them, you see them around your small town, you know like it was when we were growing up. It's time like this that I miss.

Silly picture time! And leave it to Adrienne to make a silly face! I had to catch this one for her.

Now, they went over this many times during the rehearsal. They told the graduates that they will be receiving their diplomas AFTER the ceremony. You don't want to give the wrong one to the wrong person. Understandable, it happens. Trust me, it happened at Chuck's commissioning ceremony at Lee. But, Adrienne looked in her folder, and there wasn't any diploma. She looked at her grandmother in shock!

After it was all said and done, a few more shots of the family

A chance for cousins to compare cell phones

For the grandchildren to get together for one photo

And a time for the grandparents to shine

Cleaning Windows

2009-06-01T14:04:00.000-07:00

A while back my dad's wife, Bonnie, asked us if we would come and wash her windows. Well, that is fine, but I don't like charging family for things that I can do in my spare time. There wasn't much wiggle room there, she wanted to pay and that was that.

We did the smaller windows one day and decided that the sunroom would come another day. Chuck and I take our time on windows. We plan a day to do them, get them done right, make sure they are clean, that way if anyone asks, it could be another job for us.

On Tuesday after Mother's Day, our anniversary, we decided that we would kindly finish up my dad's windows and while we were there do the pressure washing they asked for too. Ok, so Chuck is outside pressure washing and I am outside cleaning windows, and eventually inside.

The sunroom is a room that my dad added on a few years ago. I love the room and would love to have something like that on my house, but it isn't possible right now.

This room has 18 windows. Some solid and some that are side by side. But 18 windows, no matter how they are set in, still comes out to 18 windows.

I removed all the screens and got to work. I had a job ahead of me. I didn't realize the task at hand. And doing that alone, well, that really was a job. But I didn't mind it. I poked my head out the window a few times to grab a kiss from the boss, it was our anniversary. Got fussed out for goofing off while working from the boss too. But, he got over it.

Chuck pressure washed around the house, the porch and the sidewalk.

Everything looked so nice. Clean sidewalk, clean porch, clean windows and screens. And word of mouth pays off.

Since Bonnie was so happy with the window job, she mentioned it to a friend from the Y, and this lovely lady asked us to do her daughter's house also.

It pays to do a job well done!

Running Behind

2009-06-01T13:53:00.001-07:00

Ok, I have to admit, we have been busy and I miss my blogging, but, I have time today for some catching up.

I am so far behind that I am starting with Mother's Day and working my way up to the present. If time allows me. I do have a friend begging for info on Eric's ceremony. I will get to that one today.

Mother's Day this year was wonderful. We told each other when we started this business that we won't buy anything for birthday, anniversary, Mother's day or Father's day. That is fine with me. I am happy with what I have and I don't need anything anyways.

I got up to breakfast of donuts, specially chosen by PJ. Coffee and donuts, no clean up! I have to be honest, I took advantage of the day. It was my first Sunday off in 10 months and I didn't do anything. I put my feet up, made a few scrapblogs, rested some more, crocheted some, and that is about it. Watched some tv and didn't really move much out of my chair. It was my first relaxing day, it was gonna be my last relaxing day for a long time, so I wasn't gonna do anything.

Chuck went shopping for dinner and when he started dinner, he told me that I was to do nothing and they would handle dinner. Woo Hoo! I didn't have to cook or clean up or set the table. I was excited! I didn't know what to expect, but I didn't care.

Chuck and Eric got in the kitchen and made Chicken Enchiladas with a Creamy Green Sauce. Now, I have made this before, but when Chuck gets in the kitchen, he likes to experiment some. And that he did. Let me just say, dinner was EXCELLENT! And I really enjoyed it.

The rest of the day was just like earlier in the day. I really took advantage of time that I had to rest. I knew that coming up, we would be busy, and relaxing was going to be a thing of the past.

All in all, Mother's day was a wonderful day, my family spoiled me! And that doesn't happen all that much!

A blog about Eric

2009-05-22T16:01:00.000-07:00

I blog so much about us and myself, that sometimes I need to blog about one of the boys.

Now, don't get me wrong, I am so very proud of both of my blessings. But every-once-in-a-while, I have to brag on either one of them. Today is Eric's turn.

Yesterday he got home from school and handed me a piece of paper, "you don't have to go if you don't want to."

"You are cordially invited to the 7th Grade Honors Program recognizing the academic acheivement of your CMS student"

What, what, what???? Eric is recognized for his academic acheivement? Are you talking about my son? Are you sure you have the right Eric Hall?

In all fairness, I am kidding about the above statement, but he is being recognized for his academic achievement.

Now, most of you are family or friends and you all know what we have been through with Eric in school.

He was held back in Kindergarten, we decided this was the best thing for him. His fine motor skills leaved little to be desired, he couldn't cut with scissors the right way, he couldn't cut with a knife for the longest time, he had problems with his printing skills.

He also struggled through 3rd grade, he ended in Summer school that year. He barely made it through 4th and 5th grades. He was in Resource because they thought he was slow.

Chuck and I argued back and forth that he was ADHD. Chuck thought it was a behavioral problem, a discipline problem. We tried everything with Eric in elementary school for him to do well. We offered him money, camps, games, whatever it took, we tried it. The teacher in 5th grade mentioned that he was ADHD, but Chuck didn't want him on medicine to help him out.

Eric would get distracted in school so easily. Tear papers, tell jokes for answers, make a mess, fool around with his desk. He did it all, and it was still a battle to get Chuck to realize that Eric needed something to help him out.

This time last year, I decided that I was tired of the bad grades, C's and D's and F's was all Eric could produce. He tried and still missed work, forgot to hand things in, sloppy work, didn't have enough time to distract the class and distract himself. I convinced Chuck that he needed to be seen by a pedatrician. And I did just that.

Eric's last progress report was C - F. He was going to fail a few classes if we didn't do something about it. I took him to the Dr's about 3 weeks before the end of school. He got started on medicine right away. That was a Wednesday, Saturday he was sitting at the table doing school work that wasn't due for another week.

Eric's last report card in 6th grade consisted of B's and C's. No F's, no D's.

This year, every progress report and report card that Eric has brought home has been mostly A's. First report card, 6 A's, 1 C, second report card, 6 A's, 1 B (Silver Honor Roll), third report card, 6 A's, 1 C. His last progress report, 6 A's, 1 C.

I am so proud of him. I am so proud of how far he has come. From the little boy that could not figure out how to hold his scissors to this. From that little boy that struggled to walk down the stairs the right way, to receiving an academic achievement award. From that little boy that had to be in Resource all through elementary school, to someone that will be in Advanced Engineering Tech.

Yep, I am so proud of him. He has worked so very hard to get to this point.

When we were at his cousin's HS graduation, he asked about the gold sash that some of the students were wearing. I explained to him that it was honor's sash. The students that graduated with honors, the students that had A's throughout HS. He looked at me and said, "I am gonna get that. I am gonna be the one up there giving a speech." What a goal to reach!

Yep, that is my son! He is winning an award! Not for helping his teacher every morning, not for being a pleasant student, it is for an academic achievement!

Wow! He has come so far!

I love you Eric, I am SO PROUD OF YOU!

New Mattress

2009-05-16T15:52:00.000-07:00

Oh what a day we had before Mother's Day!

We bought a new mattress after 10 years. It was about time, and although I didn't want to spend the money, we had to. It was time.

We bought our last mattress when I was pregnant with PJ. It had been moved 2 times since and it was starting to show funky little signs of being worn out. Sagging in some areas, lumps in others, oh wait, that sounds like me. Ha Ha! Nope, that was the mattress.

We decided to buy a newer foam type mattress, it is not a Temperpedic, but it is a nice foam mattress. And it isn't too bad either.

We went ahead and purchased the mattress and then the fun began. We moved the bunk beds out of PJ's room and we ended up taking apart the bottom bunk apart because we couldn't get down the hall and into the living room. That went to a friend of ours that wanted bunks for her daughter. Moved our old mattress in PJ's room, which that filled it up, and then got ours.

Now let me explain something here, we have a 4 post cherry bed and itself is way off the floor. But when you add a new mattress to it, well, it comes up to my waist, and I am 5'5". NOT GOOD !

I looked at it and thought on how was I going to make this bed and how am I going to get in this bed. It wasn't easy and of course getting out and then back in after going to the bathroom isn't easy, but oh, it sleeps so nicely.

Life isn't all that bad when it comes right down to it.....

BNI Networking

2009-05-16T09:23:00.000-07:00

A few weeks ago we picked up a job to clean the windows in the house of a realor. She and the family were living in a show home and it was sold right under their feet.

Now her and her husband were building a house to sell, you know owner/realtor type home. Nothing special, really it wasn't. But since they needed a home, they were going to move in there for a while until either something else came along or if they sold this house.

Let me start off by saying that I am not impressed with these newer homes. It seems like there is one style and that it is. Like people say, Cookie Cutter homes. Especially in subdivisions. I prefer the older homes. The ones that were built, like our home, in the 50's. Granted things need to be updated here and there are things that are going to fall apart, but it doesn't look anything like the neighbor's home or the house that is around the corner. It is different.

Chuck spoke to the realtor and said that she needed her windows cleaned and if we do a good job, she would refer us to other people.

We did the job, cleaned the windows perfectly, her husband was very pleased with the job. She was pleased with it too. We gave her some brochures and business cards and she said she would definately refer us to people.

The next day we received a phone call from one of her fellow brokers. She is involved in BNI and asked us to come to the next meeting to see if we would like to join this networking. We got to the one meeting and talked about it, and decided that we would join.

To explain this in a nutshell, they only take one of each type company. One realtor, one insurance agent, one electrician, and so on. This will be good for us because we cover so much, carpets, gutters, basic lawn care, windows, general cleaning,and pressure washing. If they accept our application, like our references and we get in, then they cannot take anyone that does any of the stuff that we covered on the application. So, if someone in the group needs a something that we do, done. Or if they know of someone that needs it done, then we get first chance at it. We had our first 2 free breakfasts and got 2 referrals on the 2nd time out there.

Hopefully there will be more to come out of this. We are actually are hoping for work for the fall and winter months so that way we won't have to worry about finding outside work and this to keep the money coming in.

Either way, we are on the right track with this. Getting into groups that will be beneficial to us, and hopefully we can be beneficial to them too.

My first full week of Self Employment

2009-05-16T08:55:00.000-07:00

I am so behind on my reading and writing of blogs, that I figured today I would do some catch up on things. Since it is so wet here, we really can't get out and mow today. Hopefully tomorrow will be better for mowing.

Our first full week of both of us working was full, ok, full enough for me. I am not going to go through the entire week with you, but for me, it was profitable and a workout.

We picked up a job to where we have to clean the carpets, clean the kitchen, scrub the bathroom and wash windows in someone's home. Not too bad, while Chuck runs the shampooer, I will clean the other rooms and wash the inside of the windows. And when he is done, we can get the outside of the windows. There were several other things that we saw that he will have to get done in the next few months. And if he wants us to come back out once a month to clean the house, well, that is not a problem. We can take care of that for him too. I don't mind doing this stuff, as long as it pays the bills and gives us money left over, I am fine with that.

We cleaned my dad's windows in the sunroom, 18 windows inside and out. It took me nearly 6 hours to get them done. Yes, 6 hours, I want them clean. Meanwhile, Chuck pressure washed the porches and concrete around the house. That was a job.

I cleaned my first set of gutters on Wednesday. If you know me at all, I hate having gooey stuff on my hands. And even with gloves, it didn't help much. I got the gutters around the house all cleaned out, a few shots of roof gravel was swallowed, gutter goo bounced back in my face from using the pressure washer in the gutters, washed the entire house with the pressure washer, climbed about 20 feet up to clean a gutter, an uneventful day all around!

We joined a networking group. I will blog about that in another blog to explain it more. But it was a good thing for us, hopefully it will get our name out there and money coming in.

We got the job to a local furniture store to clean their windows 9 times a year. Yep all 42 windows. This is another good thing for us. It helps us get our name into the business community and if they like the work we have done, who knows what is behind that.

Friday finally came, it may have been somewhat of a day off, because of the 7 + inches of rain we have had in the month of May, the ground is pretty much saturated. So, Friday gave me a chance to make my first major cake (another blog with pictures). That was enough for me that day.

Finding different things to help us stay out of the work force is the key. I love to bake and do different things, so maybe that will be a plus. Chuck is working hard in different areas to see where we can fit in too. It is hard work, and being 42 and starting this now in life is rough. But who knows where we will be in a few years. We work 6 hours a day, hard work, but there are days like today, that we can't do anything much. And weeks where we don't have a chance to do as much, we catch up the following week. We may work really hard that one week, but we had more than enough time off with the rain and the ground saturation the week before.

In April, we looked at each other and said that the month of May doesn't look good for us at all. We started the month out having to get a planner and when Chuck wrote everything down, it was then we realized that we were nearly full. The first of the month looked as if we only had about 10 days to fill. And with rain, that has put us back a little. But now we are looking that we only have about 3 more days left to fill. Our days aren't always 6 hour days, some are more, some are less. But it all works out in the end.

Yes, after a day of pressure washing, climbing ladders and cleaning windows, we are very tired. But I can't complain at all. After a shower and dinner I don't feel too bad, until I fall asleep in my chair.

Happy Mother's Day to Grandma Letty

2009-05-09T14:04:00.001-07:00

It finally hit me today

2009-05-03T13:43:00.000-07:00

I was at work today and a realization came over me that made me cry.

Can you imagine being at school and you hear over the intercom that a place where your parent works had just been robbed?

What would go through your head?

This happened to Eric on Friday. He heard that the Pizza Hut where I was working that day, was robbed at gunpoint. He stayed as calm as he could through the day, never said a word to anyone, didn't show any fear at all, just went on through the day like any other day.

I don't know what I would have done in his position. He maintained calm and collectiveness until he got home. It was then he showned some emotion and concern.

I really didn't think about calling school to let him know that I was alright. I didn't think that the school would announce something like that either.

I was at work today explaining the the manager on duty, that although I wasn't there at the time, I still was scared. I started to cry when I realized the pain that my son must have felt when he heard the announcement. I cried because I would hate to see their life without me in it. It finally hit me today when I had to talk to someone, other than Chuck and the boys, about this.

In all the years that I worked front desk in offices, I have never been put in a position like that. And in 16 years that the store has been open, my boss had never been robbed, ever.

The world is changing so fast. The amount of robberies have quadrupled since the first of the year. People have no money, they have no jobs, they have nothing left. So, they turn to this. Why? Because maybe they want to provide for a family, maybe they need food, maybe they don't know any better.

All I know is this, I am getting out at the right time. I have to provide for my family and I will be glad to work as hard as I can to do that.

Friday was an eye-opener for me. My family comes first, a job is not worth being killed over.

I knew this was gonna happen sooner or later

2009-05-01T15:25:00.000-07:00

What a day I have had!

First of all, I am so thankful that a Higher power was watching out for me. Because I don't know what kind of frame of mind I would be right now.

As you all know I have turned in my notice and next Friday is my last day, it can't come soon enough. Especially after what happened today.

My Pizza Hut where I work was robbed at gun point in broad daylight. I was on a double run, so I was out. Thank God!

I got back to the store and the door was locked, and I was greeted with this, "We just got robbed Patti." Great! I just missed all of this by 2 or 3 minutes.

The guy came into the store, only an hour after it opened, there was nothing in the register at that time of day. But he demanded that the register got opened and the safe too. The other guy there today, which he usually isn't, was training for a manager's position. It was a good thing he was there, I would be scared to think what I would have walked in on.

But I got my stuff, and the police came in, and I left. When I got back, the store was full with people. And I spoke with the one guy as to what happened.

The robber put a gun in my bosses face and demanded that the safe was to be opened because there wasn't enough in the register for him. They parked their car in front of the store, so manager could identify the car, and he took off to the car and out of the parking lot.

The police were called and they had already apprehended the criminal. But it wasn't an easy fight, the police were shot at, and they returned fire. They also caught another person involved in this too. On the interstate with spike strips.

The other 2 employees went home. I finished out the day. I got a little rattled, but I was fine enough to work. I knew they were caught, I knew they were in jail, and I knew that most of the time, they don't hit the same place twice if they weren't caught.

I received a call from school. Eric's school was in lockdown. They announced during a small party that all students needed to go back to the classroom. And then when they got back, they announced that the local Pizza Hut was held up by and armed man. Eric said that he didn't get shaken up too badly, but he is day was pretty much shot. He got off the bus and immediately questioned his daddy, "Mommy ok?" Chuck told him that I was, but he told him that if I was involved, he would have been taken out of school. Better self control than me!

My boss is shaken up badly, and the other employee is taking a day or two off. The other employees of the store are really shaken up too. They weren't there, neither was I, but they have no reason to be afraid. This is only the second robbery in a matter of 6 years in this area.

I called Chuck as soon as I heard and told him that I wasn't there. He was relieved that I wasn't there. And if I was there, I would have been home shortly after I had the chance to leave. I told the one guy, I would have left the uniform behind and told them that I was going home and not coming back.

It isn't safe to work in places like that anymore. We don't have video cameras hooked up, we don't have alarms set up, we don't have any of that stuff. You would figure in this day and time that Pizza Hut and all their money would try to have a safer work environment. But they don't, and it is too bad.

I am so thankful that His eye is on the sparrow and He watches over me.

I have had other things happen to me working there, it is time that I get out of there.

I can only pray that Chuck and I get enough business to keep us busy, to provide for the rest of the year, that way if we want to work in the Fall and Winter we will. If not, something will come along.

Ugh! I hate windows!

2009-04-28T16:54:00.000-07:00

No wonder people hate to clean windows, you can see every little bad detail on a clean window. And that happened to us.

Monday, Eric went to Dollywood, and we had a job at a florist on the other side of the river. So, PJ went to Nana's and Poppy's and went to work on someone's house.

We took off to the florist. Chuck takes the outside and I go in. But we can't work on the same window and the same time, so he told me to go down some. I messed up, I started on the window with the neon sign in it. Not good. I got severely fussed at by the owner. I didn't know. And I apologized for it too.

I washed my windows, but everytime I started to spray the windows and scrub, it would dry on the window. Not good!!!! The same thing happened with Chuck too, only worse.

I washed mine inside, washed the cooler doors, washed both doors, and then went back to help Chuck out. The 2 front windows were streaked, badly. And no matter what we did, it wouldn't come up. There was a film on the windows and we had to scrub them to get the junk off of them. We finally get them done and then go over to the sliding door. I scrubbed the inside, and Chuck scrubbed the outside. The stuff was in the middle of the 2 glasses and it wasn't coming off.

Chuck went inside and spoke to the owner and he basically told Chuck that the windows looked like shit and that the problem isn't with the middle of the glass but the crappy way we are cleaning them. So, back out to the windows we go and scrub more. Spray more, scrub, wipe down. Nope, it was in the middle of the glass and there was nothing we could do about it.

Chuck went on inside, I stayed in the truck. I didn't want to go back inside after the previous conversation. Chuck finally convinced him that the streaks and stains are on the inside and that we really can't do anything about it.

Finally we were going home. Not happy about the way the windows came out, but there was nothing to be done about it.

This morning Chuck gets a phone call, it is the owner of the florist. The windows on the other side of the building, where it was darker, looked really bad this morning. Streaked all over the place. Well, we couldn't see it and he apologized that they were like that and that we would come out in the morning and fix it for him. He said not to worry about it, we can get it next time.

We go back the end of May, first thing in the morning. If he was paying us every week to come out and do it, I would be there fixing it right away. But he isn't, this is once a month deal. We offered to fix it, but he said no. I don't want to hear anything bad about us, we tried to fix and we were told not to worry about it.

Chuck said when we left, "I forgot how very picky he really is!" I understand that we didn't do it right, we were there for 2 1/2 hours, the first time after a year of not being cleaned is hard. The owner mentioned to Chuck "The guy we had for years just decided not to come back." Huh, I wonder why????

A delightful couple

2009-04-28T16:22:00.000-07:00

I now have time to expand about my hour or so with a very delightful couple, Mr. and Mrs. D.

Deacon, as he requested I call him, will be 89 in July. He is a WW2 veteran from PA, short man, long face, chucky, wears a red hat from Henegar AL., blue jeans and Tshirt. He has heart problems, so he works in the yard about an hour and then he is done for the day. He has also had his heart shocked twice this year.

Mrs. D, I am not sure of her age, but she is right there with him. She is from Alabama, a bit taller than her beloved, sweet talking, tender hearted woman. She wants to work in the yard more, but because of heart issues, she can't do much either.

I spoke with both for a little while and found out about them. And I can't wait to talk with them more.

They met in Chickamauga during the war. And for 3 years they were apart, but stayed in touch. After the war, they married and moved to Pennsylvania. After all their years together, he got tired of the snow, she got tired of the cold, so they moved to town, to their son's home, 6 years ago and have been here ever since.

Deacon shouted over to me, "You don't mind me calling you Lakehurst, do you?"
"No sir, that is fine with me."
"Ok, you have a new nickname. Everytime you come over here, you call me Deacon, and I call you Lakehurst."

That is fine with me, if that what it takes for him to remember something about me, then he can call me that.

He and I were talking about the Amish community on the other side of the county. He was telling me all that they have out there, about the shed that he bought out there, no electricity, everything with horse and buggies, and then he said, "Now, don't you wear no shortie shorts out there when you go." HA! Like I have to worry about that. I told him that I don't wear that out there, I know how they are and that I am too old for something like that anyways.

His bride mentioned that she finally bought a crockpot. And Chuck was telling her how she can cook sweet potatoes in the crockpot. Well, she was thrilled. And then I told her that we use ours all the time and that I will be glad to share simple recipes with her. Deacon looked at me, "Oh you have a crockpot?" "Yes sir, I have 2." "You have 2? Wow! The kind that the pots come out of?" "Yes sir, that is the kind I have." "Oh, and you have a garden?" "Yes sir, I have that too and I can my veggies and fruits over the summer." "Wow, I really like you Lakehurst!" I couldn't help but smile.

Mrs. D asked Chuck how long he and Eric will be out there on Saturday. He told her that it would probably be about 2 1/2 to 3 hours. "I do believe I can find a few other things for you to do."

When I was moving the rose to the fence, Deacon asked his wife where it was going. She told him that I was putting it by the fence. "The fence that I just paid to get cleaned?" "No, Bob, the other fence." "Oh, that is good, I don't want to clean that fence again."

Right before we left, Deacon asked his wife if she had paid us yet. "No Bob, they will be out Saturday, I have lots for them to do Saturday and then I will pay them." "Oh, ok, just want to make sure."

"Hey Lakehurst, you want some Hostas?" "That will be fine sir." "Okay, I will have them for you Saturday."

What a darling couple! I can't wait to go back and find out more about them. He made me smile and laugh, a lot! And she is just as precious as can be.

I love some of the people I meet

2009-04-27T11:57:00.000-07:00

The other day while I was on delivery, my phone rang. I answered it and found out that it was a little lady that got our flyer and was needed some work done. I took all her information and mentioned that I was at work and that I would have Chuck call her.

Chuck calls her, goes out there and finds out what she needed done. Turns out that her neighbor needs help too. Ok, not a problem. The one needs holes dug and fig trees planted, gutters cleaned out and a garden patch tilled. The other wanted to have a shrub pulled up, tomato plants planted and a strip of ground tilled, so that way her husband can get through on his tractor.

So, today I go shopping with my dad. And then off to the little neighbor's house to get things done. Chuck had the truck ready to go when I got home. Shovel, extension cord, Alligator to cut shrub down, and my little shovels to plant the tomatoes.

We get over there and she had already started on what we were going to help her with. She told me that she wanted a hole dug for a rose bush. Ok, not a big deal, so where is the rose bush, in the ground on the other side of the yard. Dig that up, and then plant it. Meanwhile, Chuck is over there cutting the plant down that she needed down and digging up the roots to that one. All that goes well, now what. Dig holes for tomatoes and plant them for her. She didn't expect me to plant them, she thought that I was only gonna dig the holes. But I was there so, why not.

This couple is a lovely little couple. He will be 89 in June and still doing yard work, she is right behind him. Turns out he is from King of Prussia PA. Nice, I thought I heard yankee in him. They have lived in Cleveland for 6 years.

He found out that I was from NJ and asked the whereabouts and I told him around the Lakehurst area. He remembers when the Hindenburg caught on fire. It flew right over his house, he remembers the people waving to the ground below. And then the radio broadcast that it had blown up.

He was sitting in the shade watching us work, and called over to me, "hey Lakehurst, do you know what scrapple is." What kind of Yankee would I be if I didn't know what Scrapple was. "Yes, sir, of course I do." And I told him that he can find it at Publix in Ooltewah if he was looking for some to buy. Oh he was thrilled to hear that.

His wife got to giving more direction to Chuck about odds and ends and what she will have to have done on Saturday. The pear tree is to be moved, we don't have the ability to do that. The patch of land needs to be tilled, and they are thinking about hiring us to mow and care for their yard this summer. She mentioned that it is getting hard on her husband to do it. He told Chuck that he has a nice little mower for him to use, Chuck told him that he has a nice mower and can have that yard done in about 35 minutes. He was pleased to hear that too.

I think we have a potential to do more for them. We will do the job right, and make sure they are happy with what we will do for them.

Sweet people, loved to talk, lovely yard.

With me leaving Pizza Hut, there is one thing that I will miss, the people. But meeting the wonderful people that I have met so far, I don't think that will be a problem.

So far I have really wonderful customers. This also leads to referrals.

Decision made

2009-04-27T10:48:00.000-07:00

I have made a decision about work and this business and I have decided that I will be leaving Pizza Hut.

I have been having issues at work and I really didn't want to leave this soon after starting a business, but I have to.

I have good reasons why I should and one very good reason why I shouldn't.

I shouldn't leave because this is a new business venture and I am afraid of leaving us high and dry.

The reasons I should leave:

I haven't had a day off yet. And I don't foresee one anytime soon either.

The employees that I work with give me a hard time about everything. I am treated poorly there and don't appreciate the fact that no matter how hard I work, things don't change.

I have been taken advantage of from the moment I started working there. They call me to come in, I go. They ask me to stay, I stay. They need someone to fill in, I am there. In the beginning it was fine. I had to prove my worth to them, and I did. But when it got out of control, I couldn't take it anymore. I was there morning to night in some cases, closed when needed, opened when needed, cleaned all that needed to be done, scrubbed toilets and cleaned the bathroom. Enough is enough.

Our business venture is going quite well. Actually, we are at a point right now that we thought would be a few months down the road. Business is coming in, and we are staying very busy at the moment.

Now, just to let you in my world for the moment, so you understand where I am standing right now.
Today - Help a lovely couple in their yard (Will blog about that in a bit)
5:00 tonight, clean windows at a florist on the other side of Chattanooga
Tuesday - work 11-8, turn in 2 week notice, may be home early!
Wednesday - clean windows for realtor at 10 AM and I know there is something else there. Yep, forgot, clean windows at 2 local Pizza Huts
Thursday - Clean windows in Dayton at Pizza Hut.Mow a the yard from hell. Go buy me a new phone, trust me, this is a chore!
Friday - work 11- 4 or later if needed.
Saturday - we have 2 yards to help plant and clean gutters. I think Chuck and Eric will do that. I have to clean the windows at my Dad's house. He doesn't want to do them, he can, just doesn't want to. And he will pay me to do them for him.
Sunday - work, if I still am employed, 11 - 4
And then Monday it starts a new week and starts all over again.

We have 8 yards to mow as of right now. Looking at 9 and 10, wow! It took off faster then what we expected. I am excited about this.

Now, if I could sell something, I will be thrilled.

It is all working out for us. I am excited at what is front of us, I am not looking back. We made a decision and I am happy with the decision.

Never in a million years....

2009-04-25T16:04:00.001-07:00

... would I have imagined the stuff that I have learned over the past 3 months.

I have learned to use a pressure washer

I have driven a riding mower

I now have a zero turning radius mower, that I know how to drive

I have learned to back Chuck up perfectly to the trailer

I now know how to hook up the trailer, perfectly to the truck

I have gotten really good at working the leaf blower

I know how to change the air filter in the lawn mower

I know how to mow a hill, that is a fun one

I can clean windows better than most people

Loading the trailer with most of the equipment

Bungee everything down to trailer

I still have some learning to do, such as the following:

Driving with the trailer on the truck

Back the trailer up into the carport

Load either one of the riders onto the trailer

Start the leaf blower

Start the weed eater

Learn how to use the weed eater properly

Start the pressure washer

Other than that, I pretty much have gotten most of the stuff that I need to know down pat.

Really, never in a million years would I have even thought I would know how to do half the stuff that I know how to do today.

Quick update and then some more post to follow

2009-04-22T17:22:00.000-07:00

Just to let you know, we are still alive and on the face of the earth.

As you all know we started our own business. It was something that was to be coming eventually, but got started sooner than we expected. No biggie, just go with the flow.

We started out as a window cleaning service. Turns out there is one man in town that basically has the entire area wrapped up. It is either that, or the economy is so bad that no one can really afford the luxury of having their windows cleaned right now. So, we didn't give up, we decided that yards would be the thing.

Neither one of us like to do lawns, but might as well venture into uncharted waters, or lawns. And so we did.

We decided that we were going to advertise with "Welcome Friends" the local welcome wagon. The lady was so nice and just so happened to need someone to advertise to do yard work. I wasn't so sure of this, but, we got one nice hit out of it.

We got a phone call one night from a lovely lady, she asked if we did lawns and told us that she got our number from Welcome Friends. We got over there and found out that this lovely lady worked for Welcome Friends for a while and then found out that she had cancer and had to stop.

This yard was huge, still is huge. Chuck rides the rider and I push what I can get done. There is a hill, and it is my job to get the hill done. Oh lucky me!

Anyway, we get done with her yard and mention to her that the ad that we were running with Welcome Friends was free pressure washing with a summer contract. So, Chuck mentioned to her that he would be coming out to pressure wash her porch and furniture so that way she could drink her coffee outside. She was very pleased. But what made her happy was this, I heard her mention that she wanted to get the windows cleaned. Well, Chuck and I talked about it and I ran this by him, if she gets us 2 referrals I would clean her windows for her. I told her this, and she was thrilled with that. So, she is still working on people because she wants her windows cleaned. And I will hold true to my word, she will get them done as soon as we have 2 referrals.

Here it is, close to the end of April. We started this thinking that if we got 3 yards this year, we would be happy. We went out and bought a used Simplicity from the main lawn place in town.

It would have been perfect if we stayed with just the 3 yards that we had. But, all of the sudden, we grew. And I mean grew! As of now, we have 7 yards, not including our own. Now, one is just part time, very small yard. One is just one time a month, but very large, and the rest are either every 10 days to 2 weeks. So, this coming Saturday, we have 3 yards to do and windows too. UGH! I will get back to you to let you know that I survived.

This week we picked up another yard. A lady that I go to church with lost her guy from last year and wondered if we could look at it and see if we wanted it. Ok, we go out there and get started, I push, Chuck rides the mower. I don't mind as long as it is FLAT. I got all around the front, around the trees and all over the place. I did this one spot twice, behind the azalea, the first time I got through fine, the second time the branch got hung up, and the third time when Chuck mentioned for me to do it again. Although I had been through there twice, I did it once more. Yep, should have stayed where I was at. I went through, the flowered branch passed by me with a little trouble, the one that was a thick limb, well, it stretched all the way up and came flying back on my thigh. I have a welt that is multicolored right now. And it hurts like anything!

We had been talking about buying a zero turn radius mower. Now, let me explain something here. I have only mowed once on the rider, just once, and that was our own yard. I haven't been on it since. I am not the kind that gets on mowers and knows what I am doing. So, a zero turn radius mower scares me.

We had the chance to buy a commercial mower a few weeks ago. It was used, 95 hours, a $7000 mower for $3000. WOW! But I wasn't so sure of it at the time. When we did finally decide on it, we were 5 minutes too late. Oh well, live and learn.

Today we went out to Vassey's again, for like the umpteenth time. Looked at one of the mowers and then talked to the owner about anything used. Well, he had something, but we thought it was sold, since the tag said "SOLD".

Turns out this man came up from Florida, built a house on a hill, bought the zero turn radius mower, used it for 5 hours, got scared and decided he was going to trade it. Lucky us, we get there, talk to the owner, I have to drive this thing, found out it has a tow package on it, and ended up buying it for about $900 less than a new one. Ok, so this is used only 5 hours, it is new to me. Full warrenty. SOLD!

I told Chuck that we weren't gonna go home and think about this one. Because if we did, it would be gone the next day. Go home, get the trailer and load it up.

Of course I had to try and figure this thing out, I ran into the neighbors bricks going down the hill, ran into my garden and Chuck said I hit something else, not sure, but I am sure I did hit something else.

Chuck decides to let Eric drive it. Now, this thing is fast, Chuck popped a wheelie on it once. Eric gets on it, nearly ran Chuck over
Gets some instruction
And off he goes
Of course he had a blast, while PJ is inside pouting.

Chuck finally gets Eric to stop and get off the mower and gets PJ.

All I hear is laughter and mower engine running, this is what I see

So, we are doing well, staying busy, living life, loving life, enjoying the boys and each other. It is work, but it is so worth it. So, we are a little sore the next day, get over it. We are ahead of what we thought we would be. Actually, we thought we would be looking at 8 yards in August. We are looking at getting another yard from someone that I know, and giving incentive to other customers to get us referrals.

Life is busy, but at least we are having fun at it.

We are doing well, having fun, living life, enjoying the boys and

Don't throw that away!

2009-03-30T15:35:00.000-07:00

Being on a budget (UGH!) you learn to look at things differently. And I am looking at things very differently.

Before we were on a budget, I could open the fridge and see container after container of leftover food. And on trash day, container after container would be dumped in the trash. No lie, one week there was 13 containers to be thrown away. Not good.

Now I look at how can this be used again viewpoint. We used to not eat the two pieces of bread at each end of the loaf. Chuck didn't care for the heel and the one next to it was too stale, so 4 slices got thrown away with every loaf. Not anymore. Those pieces work good for toast. No complaints either, hmm, makes me wonder.

Well, I made sauce the other day with sausage in it. Turns out a pound of Italian sausage was too much for the amount of sauce I had. Ok, cool it off, bag it up, freeze it for another meal.

I had made way too much meat sauce for dinner one night. Generally I would put it in the fridge, forget about it and end up throwing it out. Not this time, cool it off, bag it up and freeze it. And I needed it for dinner one night. Perfect

I made meatballs for dinner one night last week. I only had enough meat for about 1 meal of meatballs. Most likely with spaghetti or sub sandwiches. Well, Chuck and I headed out and went to Save-a-lot and found French Bread. That works, and for $1.29 it was cheaper than buying rolls that will sit in the cabinet and get moldy. So, we had dinner one night, and turns out that Chuck and PJ had dinner the next night. Eric and I were too sick to even think about eating. French bread, meatballs and whatever cheese they could find, and dinner.

I am learning as I am going along. I hate being on a budget, but I don't buy more than what we need. Eric gets about 6 slices of roast beef for lunch, I bought provolone for cheesesteaks the other day, 6 slices of that is so much cheaper than the 18 slices in the dairy. And I already had the cheese for the week, so why buy too much.

I find myself more at UGO (United Grocery Outlet) or Save-a-lot shopping. There are some things that are sacred and we have to buy name brand. But there are some things that store brand will work just fine. I compare prices everywhere and even buy the Sunday paper at the $1 store, I save .35 each week on that.

But more than anything I find myself looking at the dinners that I make. Making sure if there are leftovers that either the boys take it for their lunch or we have it for our lunch some time over the next few days. I notice that I don't over buy on things. Unless they are buy one get one free.

I make a list every week and stick to it like glue. So, in the long run groceries cost about $75 a week. Nothing gets thrown away anymore either.

Watching every penny is not easy, but it is worth it.

Making some more changes

2009-03-25T15:29:00.000-07:00

My dad has written a book and I am proofing it for him. It is one of those healthy eating type books, you know, the air we breathe, the water we drink, the food we eat type book. It isn't too bad, very informative. Although I don't agree with all that it is in there, I don't have to, I did agree on one of the things he mentioned.

When we go shopping, it is best to stay around the perimeter of the store. You know, produce, meats, dairy. Stay away from the aisles of the rest of the foods. We all know that the boxed stuff has preservatives in them, and we all know, it isn't good for us.

So, this week shopping, I did just that. I stayed around the perimeter of the store. I only went down 2 aisles, bread and snacks. But the snacks I bought, a bag of peanuts in the shell.

I started out at the deli, as always, and got my lunch meat. Boar's Head, all natural lunch meat. No preservatives, no fillers, just lunch meat. Then I hit the produce, strawberries, grape tomatoes, cut up cantalope. So far, so good. Chicken was on the menu for dinner this week, picked up a whole chicken for .79/pound. On to the next area, dairy. Cheese, milk, sour cream, cream, yogurt (20 for $8.00). Picked up tortilla chips, only 3 ingredients and 2 loaves of bread. I was done.

Instead of hitting the aisles that have all the stuff in it. Instead of going up and down the aisles looking for stuff, I hit all around the store first. Before I knew it, I had everything I needed. Snacks as in strawberries, tomatoes, cantalope, peanuts and yogurt. I had all the dairy for breakfast and lunch. I had one dinner, that was all I needed for the week.

Check out and see what all this cost me this week. Well, it wasn't nearly as expensive as I thought it would be, $44.65 for everything. I did have to hit UGO for eggs, $1 a dozen, load up on them. Easter is coming you know! And a few more little things. All total for the week, $57 for my entire week. Without hitting the processed foods. Not bad, I think this is a change that we all can get used to!

Frittatahhahaha!

2009-03-16T12:50:00.000-07:00

Oh my Sandra Lee Money Saving Meals is just wonderful. The 3 recipes I have tried, have been divine. Divine in the budget sense and divine that they were a hit with the family. And if anyone knows my family, they are picky!
As you know, I will post the recipe as is, and then I will post what I do to it and the cost, both ways.

1 cup precooked potatoes with herbs and garlic
1 cup chopped leftover ham, pork, turkey or shrimp
1 cup shredded Colby/Jack cheese blend
4 eggs
1 1/2 cup milk
1 tsp salt free all purpose seasoning (Mrs. Dash)
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp black pepper

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Spray 9 inch glass pie plate with spray.
Add potatoes, leftover meat and cheese to prepared pie plate. Set aside. In medium bowl, whisk together eggs, milk, salt free seasoning, salt and pepper. Pour into pie plate. Bake in preheated oven for 35 -40 minutes or until eggs are set in center. Let cool on wire rack for 5 minutes before serving.

Cost as listed:
precooked shredded potatoes $2 - $3 depending on store
leftover ham Depends on your leftovers
Shedded cheese $3.29 for 2 cup bag
Milk $2.50 a gallon, you figure that out
4 eggs .50
All purpose seasoning $2.50 for a 1.75 oz bottle
salt and pepper we all have this at home.
Total according to recipe Approx $6.00 for this as is

Now, how I make this and what I use

2 whole potatoes, washed and shredded through food processor. Keep in water until ready to use. Squeeze out all water when ready. I salt the potatoes before putting them in the 8 x 8 pan
6 cooked breakfast sausage patties, crumbled
1 cup shredded cheese, I buy the block cheese. Generally store brand
6 eggs
1 1/2 cup milk, add some cream
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp fresh ground pepper

2 potatoes, shredded through processor approx. .31/lb
sausage 1.19
cheese (6.16 for 2lbs at Sam's0) .76
eggs ($1 doz at UGO) .50
milk and cream .30
My total cost for dinner 3.06
I get about 7 servings out of this, so it comes to .44 for each serving. That is with one leftover for Eric's breakfast.
I served this is Pillsbury Grands Biscuits. They cost me .59 cents due to the $1 coupon. So, it was 3.65 for our dinner.

So, until next time, my budget savvy friends and family, Les bonnes tables (good dining)

"Daddy, I want ride on the mower"

2009-03-16T11:01:00.000-07:00

These are the words from PJ. "I want to drive the mower." Well, his feet won't reach the pedals, so the answer was no. "Daddy, I want to go for a ride on the mower." For the longest time he begged for a ride.

Now, the weather here has been iffy at best. We really have had a wet Spring, which is fine with me. I don't care either way. Actually, the more it rains, the better tips are in the delivery business. So, I don't really care.

Right after we got the mower, Chuck took it out to mow. He wanted to beat our neighbor in getting the yard cut first. So, he took it out, mowed the yard and found out that the bagger line was clogged, so out came the pressure washer to clean everything off.

I had to go over to the neighbor's to see a quilt that she made and when I got done, this is what I saw:

I guess PJ talked his Daddy into taking him for a ride. And several times around the yard was their plan. All I noticed was the smile on PJ's face. You could see it across the yard. He was so happy. He would fly by, "hi Mommy!I am going for my ride." Yes, I can see that son.

Chuck said the other day about how much he missed out on. How much he wanted to do with the boys, but just couldn't. He had to make labor at work, he had to fill in for someone, he had to go here and there for work. It was all work, all stress, no life, no family moments, no family fun. Now, he can pack the truck up and take the boys and my dad or his dad fishing. Three generations spending that time lost together. Me, I will be happy for a day at home, alone. But still, he realized that life was all work, no play. He missed out on basketball games, football games, soccer games, plays and practices. He was tired of missing out on life and not living it.

I know what is most important. It isn't making your employer richer. It it making your life richer. It is having a life with your family. Chuck realized that he missed so much and he doesn't want to miss anymore.

Our first major job

2009-03-16T10:30:00.000-07:00

A few weeks ago, we got the bright idea to tape our fliers to mailboxes. So, we did 2 neighborhoods in one day. The next day the Post office called and said that we can't do that. It is Federal property and that is not allowed. Ok, I can understand that. But if it is Federal property, why do we have to buy the mailboxes, and upkeep them. Why don't they replace a faulty mailbox when needed? Funny, just like the government, I pay for something and they own it. So, we learned from that and didn't do it again.

We did get one phone call out of all the fliers we got out. A woman wanted her gutters and downspouts cleaned. Now, my first thought was, "ok, this is easy, clean the gutters out, wash out the downspouts." Boy was I ever wrong! HA! HA! HA!

Chuck went over to the house. Looked at the job, priced it out at $75 and came home to tell me all about this. Turns out I was VERY WRONG! She wanted the outside of the gutters washed, under the gutters washed and all around the downspouts washed. WOW! Chuck tells me that they aren't that high off the ground, we can get to the easily and it won't be that bad.

The Monday after we got the pressure washer we headed over there. Buckets, pressure washer, trailer with lawn mower, chemical and goggles. We get started and all of the sudden the hose blew right off the fitting. What the heck? What happened? Well, that put a damper on the job. We had to head to Home Depot and get another hose, gee whiz.

Get back to the house, try a different chemical, nope, didn't do the job, and then go back to the other chemical. The house cleaner was the best, but brown hands and nails are not what I prefer. We scrubbed the front of this out, and I mean scrubbed. Washed, scrubbed and rinsed, repeat.... Turns out the gutter paint in the front of the house was stained from not being cleaned for a few years. And you could see exactly where the water would run over. She wasn't happy with that, but the next step is bleach, bleach is white, gutters are cream. Do you see something wrong here?

Finally, we get one side done. Off to the smaller gutter on the side of the house. I looked at it and shook my head. It was literally brown with mold. I thought that it would never come clean. I was wrong, it was easier to clean than the ones up front. The downspout came out cleaner too.

At one point the owner came out and asked about how things were going, "Well, I want to make sure that the downspouts come out nice." She was more concerned about them and not that much about the gutters.

After about 3 1/2 hours, we got done, cleaned up everything, put everything back where we found it, made sure the dirt and chemical was cleaned up. I loaded up the truck and the trailer, Chuck collected the pay. I was too tired to do anything else.

We stopped to get water and then off to the place where we bought the mower, a blade came loose, so we had to get that fixed.

I have to admit, I was never so happy to see a shower in my life! I was gross and sticky. I wanted to be cleaned up, scrubbed up and washed up. Chuck had Eric help him unload the trailer, and help him back it up. One word of advice, never let Eric give you direction in backing anything up!

Boys and their Toys

2009-03-16T09:59:00.001-07:00

I think the saying is true, "Whoever dies with the most toys, WINS!"

Ok, since Chuck and I decided that we were gonna start our own little business, the 'toys' have been accumulating. We bought a trailer, mower, some window cleaning supplies, and buckets. We have looked at backpack leaf blowers and new weed eaters too. But we came home the other day with a pressure washer. We looked over and over at these things. Chuck did his research and finally found the one that he wanted.

So, Saturday we head down to Northern Tool and he looks at all of them, me, I wander around the store looking at everything. He looks at this, talks to someone about that and then finally decided on the one that he wants.

Now, pay for it (ugh!) and load it up (ugh!). Go home and unload it (UGH!).

Chuck was putting it together, so I stayed inside until further notice. I know better, I will stay out of the way completely until all the mess is cleaned up and put away.

He gets everything up and running and realized that he didn't buy the hose to attach the wand to. Ok, so, go out to Ace and get something, but not the one that he wants. He gets home and gets started on the walkway.

So, of course, I have to try this out too. I never used one, so I might as well learn what to do. It wasn't too hard, but I did get soaked when I worked with this thing. And it is a lot of pressure to be holding for a period of time.

Well, don't you know Eric had to pop his head around the corner and see what was going on. "Can I try?" Ok, sure why not, it is only the walkway. Well, you have to understand Eric and the way he thinks. He has ADD, and only takes his pills during school days. Or when really needed at school. So, he get out there and starts out nice and slow.

And he does just fine for a few minutes, then he starts getting in a hurry. "Son, slow down. You are missing spot." "Oh, ok" and then he slows down, then gets in a hurry. It was fine, it was our walkway and he just wanted to try it out.

Chuck goes out there again, shows him what to do, how to move and how fast to go.

And we go through the same thing all over again. But no harm, no foul. He was curious on how it work and wanted to see what he could do.

Now the funny thing was watching PJ use this thing. Ok, when I have taken PJ to the carwash, I have literally seen him pull the handle and get lifted off his feet. This time was about the same. He is so small that any kind of pressure knocks him over. Too bad I didn't get any pics of that.

So, now to practice on our house, becasue we had a job on Monday to use this thing on, and I sure didn't want to ruin anything on someone's house.

PJ's Pillow

2009-03-15T15:45:00.000-07:00

This is the title to my story that I want to have published to a book. It is a cute little children's story. I am really happy with it and the way that it came out.

I have looked for a publishing company and found one that I thought I would be pleased with. I was hesitant for a while in sending it in. Rejection is not my strong point, so I don't take it well. But after much thought I sent it in to this one company.

I emailed it in, got an email stating that it would be two weeks before I would hear anything from them. Ok, I could wait, I waited this long, so what is another two weeks.

Well, while I was at work on Friday, I received a voicemail stating that they accepted my story, but I needed to get the illustrations in. And when I got home, I got the email stating the same thing. I did send in some of the pics that I had, and then they would give me a deadline on when the rest needed to be in.

Ok, now, I am beside myself over all of this. Number one, I was willing to wait the two weeks, number two, is this really that good for them to call me right away?

I made my calls and talked to everyone about it, I was thrilled. But then I got a message, a very wonderful message from a friend of mine. She was hesitant about sending this out to me, but I am so glad she did.

She took some time to research this publishing company and requested for me to do the same. So, I did. And it didn't take me an hour to realize that this company is a scam.

The Washington Post published an article about this one company. This company does things the old fashioned way, they don't feel that the author should pay for the publishing, they do it for you. They also pay you an advance. All sounds real nice, doesn't it? Nope, it doesn't go that way.

Their advance, after you sign a 7 year contract, is $1. Yes, you read that right, $1 that is all there is to that one. WOW! So,if Random House wants my book,they have to go through this publisher to get the rights. All for $1. If things like that happen, this publisher in the long run makes their money this way. WOW again!

They also don't have to sell your book to places like Amazon, Books-A-Million or Barnes and Noble. They choose which ones will go out in the public. The other books, they post in "their" store and you have to search, hunt and peck for the book you are looking for. Also, since they are a vanity company, libraries will not carry the books.

Gee, once I read all of this, I had seriously thought twice about this. And it didn't take all that long to realize that this is just a scam. They paint a picture that is amazingly welcome, of course that is how they drag you in. But it is sad that they do this to people that really think they have a chance to become something.

I spent the better part of yesterday morning researching publishers,from A - Z. I found 6 or 7 that I can send an unsolicited manuscript to. Ok, I can handle this. And then I will go from there.

If nothing happens, I can always make a few books, and give them away as gifts. It may work better that way anyways!

Singing or Screeching

2009-03-15T13:58:00.000-07:00

I work every Sunday, so therefore I don't have a chance to get to church. I do miss it, but I know that right now, I have to work on Sundays. It is fine with me.

Now, since I do work on Sunday, I have a chance to listen to some of the local services on the Christian radio station. There have been some churches in the past that have been outstanding and I end up listening to the messages at home. And there are some that I have turned off because they weren't all that good. I really enjoy the variety in the messages and the churches. There was one in Delano TN, a small town church, the pastor was as country as can be. Excellent messages. Then he went off the air. I miss those services.

Anyway, over the past few weeks I have been listening to a local church worship, choir and message. They only get an hour, so sometimes I miss most of the message.

A few weeks ago, during the choir, I noticed something. The woman that was singing with the choir had a very nice voice, she sang wonderfully when she was singing solo. Wow, the voice that God gave her, she used it marvously. But when the choir started behind her, she sang so loud, to stand out from the choir, that her voice screeched. And I mean she screeched like something I never heard before.

I attended a church for a few years, I loved it there, but the Lord had other plans for me, so I ended up leaving. I miss the people there dearly, but I know there is a reason for me going somewhere else. Anyway, they have a wonderful worship team and they work together nicely. However, there is one woman, Melanie, that has this amazing voice. A voice that she uses to glorify God. She doesn't shout or screech to be noticed.She doesn't have to and she doesn't intentionally stand out from the rest to be noticed. She has a big voice and she has wonderful control over this big voice. To her, her worship is just that. It is worship to the Lord, it isn't worship for herself. Oh how I miss her voice. But I never once saw her draw the attention to herself when others were singing around her. She never tried to sing louder because she was getting the glory. She knows that the glory is the Lord's and no one elses.

I have a group of friends that have been singing for years. Each one has a very unique voice. Each woman has a talent that they have been blessed with. Now, I know that the youngest one has the loudest, strongest voice. She is so blessed. But when the choir is backing her up, she doesn't start screeching or straining her voice to be heard. She uses her voice to magnify the Lord. As do the rest of her sisters. They all know that they have been so very blessed with amazing talent, they use it for the Lord, because they know where it came from. I admire both of my examples.

But it really bothered me that this one woman, week after week, got up there, sang without the choir wonderfully, but strained, screeched and scratched her voice when the choir started just to be noticed.

Whatever happened to the day that we all sang together? Not to be noticed by anyone. But to glorify God with the voices that he gave us. I don't sing anymore because of someething that happened years ago. I will sing in the choir and I try to keep my big mouth toned down, but sometimes I get carried away. I don't do it for the attention, trust me, that is the last thing I want. I just do it because I know that my talent is from the Lord. See, He doesnt' need to shout, strain or screech, because He hears me no matter what.

Another budget friendly meal coming your way

2009-03-07T15:22:00.000-08:00

OK, I have to admit, I love the Sandra Lee cookbook. It really has some very good ideas and the stuff is so good too!
Creamy Penne Pesto Bake
8 ounces penne pasta
1 1/2 cup Alfredo sauce
1 jar (5 oz) pesto sauce, Classico
1 can (13.75 oz) artichoke hearts, drained and rinsed
2 cups shredded Italian cheese blend
2 packets (6 oz each) grilled chicken strips
1/2 cup roasted red peppers
1/4 cup Italian bread crumbs
1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
1 1/2 tsp olive oil

Preheat oven to 375, Lightly spray 2 1/2 qt casserole dish with spray. Set aside
In a large saucepan of boiling salted water, cook pasta for 1 minute less than directed on package. Drain and set aside
For creamy pesto, in a meduim bowl, stir together Alfredo sauce and pesto, set aside
In a large bowl toss to combine artichoke hearts, Italian cheese blend, chicken and roasted red peppers. Add cooked pasta and creamy pesto; using a rubber spatula, fold together until well mixed. Transfer to prepared casserole dish.
In a small bowl, combine bread crumbs, Parmesan cheese and oil; sprinkle over paste. Bake in preheated oven for 30 - 45 minutes or until golden brown.

Ok, now here is what I did to it. I bought the Alfredo and looked around for roasted red peppers. I never did find them, but it worked out nicely for me. I didn't look at the sauce when I bought it, turns out, I bought Roasted Red Pepper Alfredo sauce. PERFECT.
I don't buy the grilled Tyson chicken in the bag, that stuff is outrageously expensive. So, improvise. Grill the chicken yourself!
Instead of buying shredded cheese, I purchased Polly-O mozzarella. It cost more for you to buy the already shredded stuff.
And I purchase a small jar of artichokes, drained and rinsed them, chopped them myself.

Total cost of everything.

Classico Roasted Red Pepper Alfredo, bogo free.... 1.29
Classico Pesto sauce, 10 oz jar 1.29
Ronzoni Penne (only used 1/2 box) bogo free .60
Polly-O Mozzarella(16 oz, only used 8 oz) 2.50
Chicken Breast (3 breasts) 2.69
Artichokes 1.30
Total 9.67

Now, since I didn't use everything, this is how my meal breaks down

Classico Sauce 1.29
Pesto, only used 5 oz out of 10 oz jar .65
Ronzoni penne, only used 8 oz out of 16 oz box .30
Polly-O Mozzarella only used 1/2 of the 16 oz 1.25
Chicken Breasts (got on sale at Sams for 2.69/lb) 2.69
Artichokes 1.30
My total cost 7.48
Which means that each of us ate dinner for $1.50 per serving. We each had the initial serving and went back for a bit more. Turns out that there was enough for someone's lunch the next day. So, for 5 servings, I paid $1.50 per serving for a dinner that was very good.
Big difference when you have to add everything up and see how much you really spend.
This way makes me more creative with dinners.
So, enjoy and save money.
Until next the next budget friendly dinner, Les bonnes tables (good dining)

Budget Friendly Dinner

2009-03-04T15:26:00.000-08:00

Ok, I have tried before to post some of the recipes, but I got side tracked and forgot about posting some stuff on there.

In this incredibly slow economy and Chuck deciding that starting our own business would be good, I have to come up with some budget friendly meals.

I hate the word BUDGET. It really isn't in my vocabulary, but it now has to be. And it really puts me on edge to be on a BUDGET.

But, it also makes me think of what I can make with what I have at home. And I sit and add up how much this is costing me to make and to feed the family. At this stage in the game, the boys aren't big eaters. They love good cooking and enjoy a good dinner.

Before all this went down with Chuck quitting his job and wanting to start a business, I bought another cookbook. I love cookbooks. But this was a wise investment. Very wise!

I bought "Sandra Lee Semi-Homemade Money Saving Meals." Now, to be honest with you, I would watch her show and thought how crazy is this woman to make things from the pantry, truely Semi Homemade stuff. Really, I wouldn't watch the show. But once I tried a few of her recipes, well, she is on to something here.

I tried this a few weeks ago and we all liked it. Of course in this house, adjustments have to be made. Make it once, and then the next time fix it to our standards. For those of you that don't know, my boys (all 3 of them) are SPOILED!

So, this was the first that I tried out of the new book, and we all seemed pretty happy with it

Creamy Spinach Ricotta Pasta
1 lb rigatoni (a box)
1 can (15oz) of diced tomatoes w/ basil, onions & garlic
1 C frozen chopped onions (I lessen them or just take them out.)
1 box (10oz) frozen chopped spinach (Box)
2 1/2 Cups of jarred Alfredo Sauce (I used the 4 cheese Classico alfredo - 1 jar is 15 oz)
1 1/2 Cups ricotta cheese - entire container; used part-skim - Since you don't use the entire 2 1/2 cups of alfredo it is ok to use the entire container
1 t garlic salt (garlic salt doesn't agree with Chuck, or he may not agree with it. So I use minced garlic and then a tsp of kosher salt
1/2 t black pepper

1/3 C dry bread crumbs (I used the seasoned italian ones)
1/4 C grated parmesan cheese
1T olive oil

1. Heat oven to 425. Coat 13x9 pan w/ nonstick spray.
2. Bring large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook pasta. Drain & return to pot. Stir in tomatoes & onions.
3. Microwave frozen spinach. Squeeze out all moisture & chop (if not already).
4. While water is boiling, make sauce in a *large* bowl. Add in alfredo sauce, ricotta, garlic salt & pepper. Stir. When spinach is ready...add it in too and Stir again.
5. Add pasta (w/ tomatoes & onions) to bowl & stir again.
6. Place the pasta mixture into the pan.
7. Mix together the breadcrumbs, parmesan cheese & oil w/ fingers in a small bowl. Then crumble over the top of the pasta (in pan).
8. Bake & ENJOY!

This was a hit. We had it for leftover lunch the next day. Be careful though, don't eat too much, that spinach will mess with your system. HA HA

I think that this cost about $7 to $8 for the entire meal. You count that we each had seconds, that is 8 and then the 2 for lunch, that is 10 servings. So, what, .70 to .80 a serving. That works for me.

I think that if people really took the time to look at a meal,they can make it for rather reasonable. I don't buy the convenience foods, the boxed potatoes or the premade stuff. I make most of everything myself. It is better for the boys and we enjoy it more.

I should teach a class, the government would love me. Save them some welfare money in the long run!

A visionary journey through glass

2009-03-04T14:00:00.000-08:00

I finally had a Saturday off. I missed those Saturdays where the boys and I got the chance to go, take off and do something. Seven months without a Saturday off, of course I had 2 days off a week, but Saturdays always proved to be a good tip day. Until recently, sales are down, work is slow. So, in that case, I cut myself back to 19 hours a week, I will get at least 17 hours a week. That works for me, I can help Chuck out getting business and working on our business.

Our first Saturday off together was very nice. I spotted in the Chattanooga Free Press on one Sunday an advertisement for The Knoxville Museum of Art. They had an exhibit from Josh Simpson . It was free and I thought that this would be a good experience for the boys. I wasn't sure about Chuck going, but it turned out, we had a family outing.

Living in Knoxville for 4 years, I didn't know what all was up there. We didn't really explore that much because of the fact that Eric was little and he wouldn't have enjoyed so much of the stuff that we do now.

We packed a cooler and took off to Knoxville. We took Cumberland Ave straight up so PJ could see the University. And ended up at World's Fair Park.
For those of you that don't know the story, Knoxville was the site of the World's Fair in 1982. They built this sphere that is still visable from the interstate. This is actually the closest I have been to it.

So after lunch we headed inside. I really thought that it was going to be busier than what was there. Turns out there were several other exhibits that we got to see while we were there. This year the musuem is offering free admission. So, why not take a trip and go see something different.

I spotted this as soon as we walked in,
I was amazed at the size of it. Very different painting.

So, while we were waiting for the bathroom break
PJ sat to watch the upcoming events ,
Our first stop was the Josh Simpson's exhibit. It was amazing! I thought the glass work was outstanding. He had planets and the earth. Wonderfully done, tastefully done too.
This is Saturn. He made 100 of these, only 1 survived. The other 99 broke in the process.

These are MegaPlanets.

I saw all sizes of the Earth. He had paperweight size in the gift shop. PJ had a chance to look at them. He held them and spun them around, looking at every little detail.

And off to the other exhibits. The only one that I couldn't take any pictures in was the room about East TN. The pictures in there were from mid 1800 to the late 1990's. They showed the different eras in art and the different styles too. This was the one room that PJ wanted to go and see. He saw something on the screen as we were waiting and he just had to see it.

I am interested in art, some forms interest me and I see a man, woman and child. Eric spotted the child and then I noticed it.

This cracked me up, From a distance it looked very 3D. Getting closer to you, you could see what the pic was all about. "Ladies Man" was the title, and the little things on the wall were wine corks with the woman's name under each one. One had a ? on it. I liked looking at it from across the room, the look it gave was fascinating.

This one I took for my friend Johanna. She works in mixed media and instantly I thought about her.
I couldn't use a flash in the museum, so I did the best that I could.

We took our time around the place. There were dancers downstairs, and an exhibit of dioramas.
The Knoxville Museum of Art's Thorne Rooms are among America's most well-known miniature diorama groups. The Thorne Rooms were developed in the 1930s and 40s by Mrs. James Ward Thorne, Chicago, who loved dollhouses as a child. After extensive travels in Europe where she collected miniature furniture and accessories, Thorne had over two dozen miniature rooms created by cabinetmakers from her own drawings. They were made in a scale of one inch to one foot. She painted and stained woodword, papered walls and made textiles for the rooms. The rooms were displayed in several World's Fairs. In 1933-1934 they were displayed at Chicago's Century of Progress Exposition. In 1939 they traveled to San Francisco's Golden Gate International Exposition, and in 1940 they wre displayed at the New York World's Fair. (http://www.knoxart.org/exhibitions/thorne/)
Ok, no one was really interested in this, but me. I loved my dollhouse when I was little and to see the work that this woman did was amazing to me. Although it was just a dollhouse showing, it was work that she did that made her happy.

The camera didn't work so well on these, but you get the idea.

The day was gorgeous, we took a small stroll around the outside of the museum to look at the very different art work out there. I am not for modern art, because my eye doesn't see what others see. I think Eric saw something in this, he is much younger and sees the world through youthful eyes.

Me, I spotted this building! The blueberry vines were crawling up the side. I was more impressed with that than I was with the art work.

Our last stop was a room of modern art. Ok, so it didn't impress me. But it did impress Eric . He talked with Chuck about what he saw, or what he thought he saw.

I thought this was a little different, at first, I thought it was charcoal on canvas, nope! Pencil on paper, torn and thumbtacked to the wall. Ok, my kids can do this, but it was cool to look at.
And another piece of art, I thought it was neat to see, something different

I took this picture for my friend, Kristin. I went to high school with her and I thought of her as soon as I saw this. Very different and unique, just like she is. I love her dearly for that personality too.

"I know, sounds like fun. Right?"

2009-02-18T13:06:00.000-08:00

How many of us would love to have that second chance to go to the Father/Daughter dance? Mother/Son something or other, Mother/Daughter Tea, Father/Son Dinner or Camping trip?

I know that I missed out on a lot of things growing up. I know that I, for one, would love to have that chance to go to a Father/Daughter dance. But when those times are gone, they are gone, and you can't get them back.

I am not the best mother in the world, I am am a wonderful mother, as Chuck puts it, my mom puts it that way too. Thanks! I have to learn a lot, I have learned a lot, I am always willing to learn more. But when it comes to doing things with the boys, I always try to find the time to do it with them.

This Saturday we are heading to Knoxville for a free exhibit by Josh Simpson, A Visioinary Journey of Glass. Why not? It is free and educational, and it gives me time to spend time with them. It is worth it in the end. Wouldn't you think it would be?

My title came from something I saw at work the other day. I was in the process of changing my schedule a bit, to be at home and help Chuck out in this new journey of our lives. Anyway, I had to go through the slips of days requested off and I ran upon this,
"I need this date off for a Father/Daughter dance at school. I know, sounds like fun. Right?"
His daughter is 4. She may not remember this, she may remember this. But he acts as if it is a chore for him to do this. How much time will this take out of his day? He works 14 hours a week, so it is not like he is missing that much work. But to act like that, over a 30 minute dance, with his 4 year old dancing on his feet, that is sad.

One day he will be dancing at her wedding, and then maybe he will look back and realize all that he missed. Maybe not, I know his attitude towards things. It is sad that fathers can't act like daddies and mothers can't act like mommies.

Book Fair Madness

2009-02-18T12:10:00.000-08:00

Every year I try to help out some at the school's Book Fair. I love going there, because, face it, I love books. And I want my kids to love books just like I do.

A few years ago, I helped out during one of the days. I got to run the register and help children find what they were looking for. I enjoyed it, I worked with another mother that is a friend of mine.

This year, with my easier schedule, I decided that I would help Tuesday night, the busiest for the Book Fair. Well, I get there and go behind to help the other with the register. I could add them up while she waits on the person in the front. Easy enough. But one mother decided she wanted to help with the register, since I have no clue how to run one (ok, whatever). And looks at me and tells me that I can clean up the messed up books and make sure no one walks out the door with a book. Can I do that, why sure I can... was I going to, no way.

The Mayor was reading to the children and I started walking around, fixing books with 2 other mothers and just watched as PJ listened to the Mayor read to them. I looked at a few books, looked at odds and ends, and when he got done, so did I. I told PJ that we were leaving. He had no problem with this. So, off to home we went.

Now, if this was the first time something happened, I wouldn't have said anything. In other blogs I have posted I mentioned about the time that I was stuck in another city with Eric and his football team. I was supposed to help out at the tent, but because of the delay in the game, I couldn't be there. Chuck did explain to them that I was in Charleston, and wouldn't make it back. He also offered to help them out in my place. They told him not to worry about, they would be ok. Before he was out of earshot, he heard them start talking about me. He went back to mention, again, that he would help. But that they didn't need to talk about me, it was circumstances beyond my control. They continued.

Two years later, another Fall Festival, I volunteered to help out with the class booth. It was kitchen duty. Ok, I don't mind, whatever I can do to help out, let me know. Well, I get there, and tell them I was there to help and what did I need to do. Another mother and I got on the line and out of no where here comes this one mother, "what do I need to do?" and they shoved her in between me and the other mother and told us that we can stand in the back and wait to help. Forget that, we left out the backdoor, never looked back.

This Fall Festival, I had to work. So, I didn't have to volunteer to help at all. But that didn't seem to be the end of it.

PJ made cookies for Halloween and the teacher fussed about it. That hurt his feelings. So, I don't want to cook for any of them ever again. For Christmas, I signed up for paper plates and napkins. I decided years ago that I won't make anything for the class because of the fact that there are so many allergies.

Well, while I was cleaning out the cabinets, I found a package of black paper plates and black napkins.I was gonna use them for Chuck's 40th birthday, but a wrench got thrown into that plan. Ok, I sent them to school for their party. I found out a few days later, they threw them out. They weren't "festive" enough for the mothers, they went out and bought the "festive" ones.

With the paper goods for school and the Book Fair garbage, I decided I had enough and that was all there was to it.

I don't look the part of the mother, I don't act the part either. I work as a delivery driver for Pizza Hut. I don't stay home with my kids, not that I wouldn't like that. Chuck doesn't make enough for me to stay at home, and I don't complain either.

Chuck had the opportunity to go to school for Donuts for Dads. Since he has decided to go into business for himself, he finally had the chance to do something like this. He got there and noticed something with this group of parents. Either you are well-off or you are right above the poverty level. Now, he could talk to either group, but finding a common place to talk to either group. There were only 2 or 3 of them that were standing by themselves. He went over and spoke with them for a little while and then left. He did speak with my former Pastor for a while, but he had to get home, so Chuck left too. He came home complaining about the cliques that the parents showed. And he commented that we never had this issue when Eric was in school.

It bothers me that this stands in my way to help out my child's class. It bothers me that they treat people this way, it bothers me that I am not good enough for them. I have delivered to some of these people, and they look at me and feel sorry for me. Like we are barely scrapping by. Like I can't find anything better than deliver pizzas. At least I have a job!

WOW! All I can say is WOW!

2009-02-11T10:58:00.000-08:00

What is wrong with our school system? I don't get it.

Ok, last week it snowed, and the roads were getting a little bad, so they called to say that school was closing early. Ok, I can understand that.

Then school got back in session and were closed for MLK day, but the Friday before it was too cold to go to school and then they closed on Inauguration day for some reason too. I think because of floods. I can understand that, but being too cold to go to school. I remember times that we stood outside until the bell rang in the cold weather.

But today really got me. I decided that I was gonna have lunch with PJ. Now, he did forget his homework, so I had to take that. But, I haven't made the time to have lunch with him. So, I thought lunch would be good today.

The weather here is iffy at best. You never know what Southeast TN is gonna hand you. We have some pretty strong winds today and threat of storms later today, but nothing right now.

I get there and he tells me that they are letting out early. Why? Well, there is a tornado warning until 6pm. What the heck? The bad weather was West of Nashville, not anywhere close to us here. They could have finished school. But the Director decided that it was taking a chance.

Well, I am at school, texting Chuck to let him know that Eric would be out soon, explained to him why he was coming home soon and then shook my head.

PJ is sruggling through school right now. I don't really know why, but I do know that the school system is sorry around here. Of course the economy has something to do with the teachers assistant being let go of, so that is a lack of help right there. Then the over crowding doesn't help either, they don't have the money in the budget to build a new school. Then on top of that, the grading system that they hit the schools with is way out there:
Parents demand 'fair grading' for students
Arleah Difebbo
Banner Staff Writer
Tuesday, Feb 10, 2009

NEW GRADING SYSTEM IS ‘CONFUSING AND FLAWED’ — Rachel Southall of the Parents for Fair Grade Reports told Cleveland City Board of Education members she and the parents’ group felt the Standards Based reporting used in kindergarten through fifth-grade schools is “flawed and doesn’t give parents enough information on their child’s academic standing.” Standards Based reporting has been phased in over the past several years in the city school district. Banner photo, ARLEAH DIFEBBO
"ABC's, not 123's:" This is the crux of what the Parents for Fair Grade Reports are demanding from Cleveland City Board of Education members.

Several representatives of the parents' group were present at the board's regular meeting Monday night as spokespersons Michelle McRee and Rachel Southall voiced concern regarding the Standards Based Grading System used in elementary schools.

"The parents I represent do not feel the system has been properly implemented. A three-tiered grading system is too broad and gives parents less information," said McRee.

The parents' group also submitted a 15-page typed report to each board member which included their stance on the new grading system currently used in grades kindergarten through fifth, a resolution, Web site information on other school systems' use of the Standard Based Grading system and a petition of more than 108 parents signatures to revert to the "traditional grading system."

Standards Based reporting grades elementary children with a 1, 2 or 3, with 3 being the highest score and means a student has "mastered" a subject.

If converted from a percentage grade, a 3 would be equal to a score of 80 to 100, a 2 would be a 50 to 75, and a 1 would be below a 50.

The system uses assessments throughout each nine-week grading period given by the teacher to each student to determine what level of mastery they have achieved in a subject.

Used in school districts around the nation, the system was started in Cleveland City Schools about five years ago when it was piloted at Arnold and Blythe-Bower Elementary schools.

"This was something that was teacher initiated," said board member Dawn Robinson. "The teachers saw this national trend and came to us for permission to try it. They wanted to see if it would improve their students' reading and math scores. It has worked. Those schools' reading and math scores have greatly improved. And, the board decided that if it worked so well at those schools, we should be uniform and slowly phase it in at all our elementary schools," said Robinson.

"We voted on that a few years ago. We didn't just drop this on our schools," she said.

Since then, Robinson said Standards Based grading has been phased in over the past few years and, as of this past fall, is currently being used in all kindergarten through fifth grade city schools.

"Getting a B or C in math doesn't tell me what my child needs to work on and doesn't need to work on in math. Is it long division or multiplication tables that I need to work on with him?" said Robinson.

"When they get to middle and high school, that school can see exactly where that child needs to be much more with Standards Based reporting than with the old grading system," she said.

McRee and Southall said the members of Parents for Fair Grade Reporting feel Standards Based reporting, as written in their resolution, should "provide both educators and parents with more information. The Cleveland City School system uses a less informative variation of standards based reporting ... neglected several key steps necessary for the successful implementation of a standards based reporting system ... did not involved parents in the planning, creation or implementation ... is not implemented consistently from teacher to teacher or school to school ... makes it more difficult for both parents and students to understand students' true academic performance ... does not give parents enough information to guide their child's education ... and, does not give students enough information about their academic standing."

"These assessments are too narrow and vary from teacher to teacher and school to school," said McRee.

"Also, there is no indication of whether learning skills, homework, projects and tests are being incorporated into reporting mastery. Is mastery determined solely based on the administered assessments? Our children report an equal level of confusion. This has contributed to apathy in completing assignments, studying for tests and excelling on major projects," said McRee.

"This will cripple our students to be competitive in high school to get scholarships. They need to know how to move up on a six point scale," she said.

Other parents spoke of their dissatisfaction during the meeting: "One time, my child brought home a paper which had a 50 and a number 2 written on it. She also brought home a paper that had a 75 and a 2 written on it. How is a 50 and a 75 the same grade?" asked Jenni White.

Southall said some parents are so upset about the grading system they have removed their children from the city schools and enrolled them in private schools.

McRee said the teachers at the schools "have not been adequately and uniformly trained in the implementation of the current system."

However, Robinson strongly disagreed with the parents' group assertion that the teachers had not been "adequately trained."

"The teachers have been thoroughly trained, but this is also new for some of them and you have to allow for a learning curve," said Robinson.

The board voted to form a committee comprised of board members, Director of Schools Dr. Rick Denning and at least one parent from each school in the district.

"We need time to study the parents' group proposal," said board chairman Peggy Pesterfield.

She echoed Robinson's opinion that Standards Based grading is working, but "may need to be tweaked some."

Anytime you try new things, you will have problems that need to be adjusted. It's always important to strive to make things better," said Pesterfield.

Southall, speaking on the board's decision at the meeting, said, "I am encouraged, but I don't think (the board) understands the level of dissatisfaction with this group of parents."

In fact, Parents for Fair Grade Reporting wrote in their submitted resolution that "The Cleveland City School board should require teachers to report on measure academic standard and an average percentage for each subject area ... the board should adopt these changes in policy in spring 2009, so they can be fully implemented starting in school year 2009-2010."

Straight from the paper. Unreal. This doesn't give the children the incentive to do well in school.

Right now, I am disgusted with the school system. To close over the winds, to close over cold days, because they want to save in the heating bill, to close over rains. Why bother?

I forgot about PJ's Christmas Program

2009-02-09T13:27:00.000-08:00

Oh my, how can I forget PJ's Christmas program. Well, if you were there you would understand how I forgot about it.

But to have to work with that many kids

I had to attend both of them. And it wasn't any better the second time around.

Now you have to understand that this was 2 days after Chuck's shoulder surgery and he really didn't want to be there, but he was. I felt bad for him. He was in so much pain, but he still went.

My dad and his wife went that morning too, they were leaving for Myrtle Beach the next day. That was cool. So, that was why I had to go in the morning.

This is what I saw with PJ.
Looks excited, doesn't he? I was taking the pics and he followed me everywhere I went. I had to make him sing several times. Now the thing is with chorus only a select few make it, don't screw it up. There was 125 students in the chorus this year. Seems like she picked them all. There are only 500 in the entire school and chorus is open starting at 3rd grade. I leave my opinion at the door for some of these students. Seems like if the parents have money, child has 0 talent they made it. PJ has a good voice and he tries very hard to please his music teacher and to please others. He has a talent, just have to really push him to use it. Um, sound familiar Patti?

I have seen a lot of these programs, this was huge. The teacher is an amazing woman. But the chorus is too big.

To be honest,the night show wasn't any better. I think she had way too much to work with in a short amount of time. Over the years they have cut out so much, only for the students to do well on the TCAP, state testing, remember those days? And it shows in the time that she had to prepare for the program.

Now, I did go back at night, someone had to take PJ there. But his grandparents were attending and I wanted to be there with them too.

PJ failed to let me know that in the morning show he could wear his Ho Ho hat. Gee, if I had known that I would have had him wear it to the morning show. He looks angelic, doesn't he? Don't let that fool you!

The program was your typical program, kids sang, kids messed up, that was the fun part. It was overwhelming for the music teacher to handle all of the students in this short amount of time.

It was fun to see him up there, it really was.

But to have to work with that many kids, in the time frame she was given, I can understand where the program went astray.

But all in all, it was nice to see him with his friends, singing and having fun.

Hopefully, next year will be better. But this is an opening for him to get into choir in Middle School. And since he was in the Christmas play in '07, this also gives him an opening for him to get into drama when he hits Middle school.

I guess I will start with Christmas

2009-02-05T15:55:00.000-08:00

Welcome to Christmas at our house!

Now this year, the cat didn't knock over the tree. First of all, we got rid of the piece of crap that she kept knocking over. And secondly, I bought a tree that had a better base on it, and it was prelit too! Saved me hours of 'stringing up the lights' (Twelve Pains of Christmas).

On Christmas Eve, it has been a tradition since Eric was young, for the boys to open one present on Christmas Eve. Usually they open the gifts from each other. But this year, I had picked the one that Eric should open. I was more excited than they were!

Now, as always, someone has to read " 'Twas the Night Before Christmas", the past few years it has been PJ. I enjoy having him read it and show the pictures too while he is reading. It is a bittersweet moment for me.

I sit back and look at the years that Chuck and I read the story on Christmas Eve. Sometimes it was "How Santa got his Job" or "Charlie Brown Christmas". But now that the boys are old enough, I want to enjoy the moment as long as I can. Now, as with every Christmas, I buy a new Christmas book, date them and bring them out during the holidays. The neighbor started me on that, and I like the thought. I have a variety of fun Christmas books.

Christmas morning in this house isn't like any other house. Trust me on this. The past few years we have had to wake the boys up. This year, Eric set his alarm clock. How funny is that! He didn't want to miss out on anything, I guess.

Well, since we changed the great room around, we didn't have the room for the tree in there. So, we had to put it in the living room. That is fine with me, I got to put it in the window. But, the gifts had to be transported from one room to the other. We really didn't think this out very well. But it was all part of the fun of the day.

Generally we have time to make a pot of coffee, not this Christmas, but I did make sure it got made up the night before and ready for the morning. Thankfully that was getting done.

This Christmas was a little less with the gifts, but the boys didn't mind much. Usually Christmas is huge around here. But since I lost my job, we had to cut back on some things. And some of it had to do with Christmas. My kids are not lacking for anything. They have all that they ever want in life, so I knew it wouldn't be that big of a deal if they didn't have an amazing Christmas, they knew the situation and they understood. We have great kids.

I love to buy books for the boys. I don't know why, but it may have something to do with me not getting any books while I was growing up. My dad never did buy me books, so it took me forever to sit down and read. I remember growing up and waiting for the Library Bus to come around.

PJ got an MP3 player,
Charlie Brown puzzle, several books, movies and gosh, I can't remember. Eric got books, an awesome wildlife bird puzzle, movies, and some games. But the big thing was the Wii. They got that with Mario Cart, the wheel and 2 other games. Along with another controller and another game.
I bought this back in May and was so excited to give it to them.

Eric's big thing was his telescope. Now, let me explain about this. He has wanted a telescope since he was in First grade. We told him, that if he came home with good grades that he would get a telescope. Each report card was not very good and each year we stuck to our guns. A telescope is an expensive item and we felt as if you have to earn it to get one. Well, we didn't realize that he had ADD until he got to Middle School, it was a battle with him all through Elementary School. Long story short, he got on medicine at the end of the 6th grade year, brought his grades up and continued to bring home excellent grades. It was time that we followed through and get him his telescope. My mom sent money, Chuck's parents gave some too towards it. And we searched for a good one that he could use for a long time. It was something that was very special and it was something well deserved.

As for Chuck and myself, we got things that were nice. Of course with Chuck's surgery before Christmas, I bought him a good pair of slippers. But I got him a nice UT jacket, Tom Brokaw book, toolbox and a few screwdrivers and some very good chocolate. No complaints there.

As for me, I got a gorgeous dress coat, some Estee Lauder perfume and makeup and a great lounge set. I also got an adaper to put my MP3 player in the car. Delivering pizzas, I need it. I love it. It is great, because I can charge the MP3 in the car. Sorry folks, no pics for you! I look rough first thing in the morning.

We stayed around the house for a while and then took off to the in-laws. Now, it used to be that we would do this day before Christmas, makes it easier on all of us. But we couldn't get a day for all of us to get together and make it work. So, we took off over there to open gifts. It was fun. I know it is harder on the boys to go over there on Christmas, but it is Christmas and we have time with the family. I guess it is fine with me, Christmas wasn't around all the cousins and family. It was my dad and me for a long time and then to him parents. And the day after Christmas was going up to New York to spend 2 weeks with my grandparents. I really enjoy this a lot more. The boys actually know who their cousins are. They just don't know it now, but they are so blessed. One day they will realize it.

Going out to the in-laws is actually fun for me too! I look back at the pictures of years past and laugh, look how much we all have aged or how the kids have grown up. I have gorgeous neices. Ok, they aren't my neices, but I claim them as mine. I have been a part of this family for 19 years. I was there when Chuck's sisters got married, I was there when Adrienne was born, and have been a part of their lives all these years. So, yes, they are just as much my neices as they are Chuck's.

These girls are wonderful girls. I love them to death. And although I haven't had the chance to do much with them. They are still my girls.

We drew names of the children for Christmas. We have to buy for 2, and that is a lot cheaper than buying for 3. But one more isn't that much either. So, this year I got Kaitlyn and Trey, brother and sister, polar opposites! But it was fun. Kaitlyn is Eric's age, Trey is just a year younger than PJ. So, for me to get to buy for a girl, that is a TREAT!

I bought a ton of makeup for her, how much fun was that! I had a blast! She also got a Webkinz and a few other small things. Now I didn't buy her Estee Lauder, but I did get her things that your everyday, typical 13 yr old girl would like. Lots of fun makeup!

Now as for my nephew, he was harder to buy for. I should have practice, but still, different tastes. Before Steve and Barry's went out of business I picked up some really nice baseball shirts. And then it was to search for some other things, and that is hard for an 8 yr old. But Aunt Patti came through, as usual!

I remember him going to his mom, 'look, I got 2 baseball shirts!' That tickled me.

Eric got a great UT picture! It was awesome! And it is hanging in his room today.

As for my in-laws, I gave them a basket full of stuff that I made over the summer. I canned a bunch of stuff, loved every minute of it too. But, since there was so much in the house, why not share!

Christmas was wonderful. I love each and every year I get to spend with the family. I miss my mom dearly. But that is part of me living down here. But Chuck's family is my family and I treasure the moments that I have with them.

Boy, I have missed a lot

2009-02-05T15:43:00.000-08:00

Well, it has been a while since I have blogged. I wanted to take a break from the computer and blogging. So, I did just that.
And everytime that I thought about getting online, something would come up, or I was too tired, or the computer wasn't turned on and I didn't feel like turning it on. I know, excuses, excuses. But really, I didn't want to be on the computer that much.
Actually, I have been on Facebook via my phone. So, I can't say I have taken that much of a break from the computer.
So, I will be blogging again. I have had a request from someone that I didn't even know was reading my blog. Yipee, another reader.
Give me sometime, I have something that is new and exciting too.
It's good to be back!

My Christmas Letter

2008-12-15T06:57:00.000-08:00

To all my dear friends and wonderful family,

This year has been an eventful one, to say the least. It was a year that I never even thought would ever happen. Really, it was fun.

First I need to send my apologies out to each one of you, I am very sorry I didn't get gifts in the mail this year for the holidays. With Chuck's surgery, my working a lot more hours than I am used to, PJ's Christmas Program, Eric's projects for school, and maybe just a little bit of down time, I didn't have the time to make the things that I wanted to make for each of you. Trust me, after the New Year, you will receive something in the mail. It will be like Christmas all over. I really am sorry, I thought I would find the time to do what I wanted to do, but lost all of it somewhere.

This year was hard on me. After losing my job of four years, searching and being rejected for all the jobs that I applied for, I went to work as a delivery driver for Pizza Hut. If it wasn't for Chuck, I wouldn't have gotten that job either.

We took a nice long vacation to St Augustine and Daytona Beach. Spent the time relaxing and enjoying a very peaceful time as a family. It had to be the best vacation that we had together.

School started in August for the boys. Eric is now in the 7th grade and very successful in all of his school work. His next report card will be straight A's. We are so proud of him. PJ is in the 4th grade and doing ok for him. He knows that he can do better, but just doesn't want to do any more than what he has to do.

I have really enjoyed delivering pizzas. I discovered some excellent back roads of Bradley County. Beautiful places to take pictures, especially in the Fall. These old barns against the colors of Fall. It is so worth the ride that I get to go on all the time. I took the boys on a journey one day and they loved seeing the way that people live in the country.

Thanksgiving was wonderful as always. We spent it with Chuck's family. They all came over here and we ate and ate. The food was wonderful, the laughs were contagious, the love was all around, the conversations were endless. It is always a time for us to share time and treasures together.

This year we celebrated milestone birthdays with my parents. My mom turned 75 in January. I greeted her with "Happy 3/4 of a century birthday!" Luckily she is a good sport and didn't say much to me about it. But she is a treasure to all of us, the boys adore her. PJ can't wait to talk to his Grandma Letty. He thinks that she and Lenny are just too cool. My dad celebrated his 70th birthday in November. He keeps going and going, just like the Energizer bunny. He discovered a new hobby this year, bees. He loves going out there to take care of them. He had the best garden this year due to the bees. We traveled to just north of Newport TN to pick them up. That was an adventure! But he keeps his mind active, warding off old age I guess.

December 12th, Chuck and I celebrated 19 years from our first date. Wow~time does really fly!

As for me, well, I try to find the time to crochet, quilt and whatever else I try to find relaxing. I did take some time this year to write a children's book. Thankfully, the artist in the family, my mom, is doing the art work for me. PJ's Pillow is based upon our son, PJ. It is basically about him and his pillow.... Once I find a publisher, I will let everyone read it.

So, for us, we are well. We are healthy, thankful for the roof over our head, and in this dwindling economy, for the jobs that we have. We are thankful for our parents and our children. We have been blessed this year.

We look forward to a new year, leaving 2008 in the past, but taking the memories with us. We know that we all will turn a year older, another anniversary, and time with our families. We are so thankful for the friends that have come into our lives and the family that we hold so dearly.

May you be blessed and you have blessed us. Have a very Merry Christmas and a joyous New Year.

Chuck, Patti, Eric and PJ

Just a little update

2008-12-10T09:35:00.000-08:00

I know it has been a while since I have posted anything or even read anything. I have been a little busy with everything. The holidays, work, school programs and Chuck's surgery.
Let me start with school program, PJ's program is tomorrow. I can't wait to see him up there singing with everyone. And although he didn't get a solo or a part, there is always next year. He called me crying that he didn't get a solo. I was a little upset, but he doesn't have to try out for chorus next year and when he is in middle school, well, he has an open door to get into choir and drama. Way to go PJ!

Next, the holidays. Oh how I love this time of year. Usually I would be looking at 2 weeks off, but that won't be happening for a while for me. So, I have to put everything around my work schedule. I have missed some of the shows that I wanted to watch, I haven't had a chance to make cookies or anything with the boys. And the mini gingerbread village, turned out to be a disaster. I think gingerbread men will work just fine. I plan on getting them this week.

The new pre-lit Christmas tree is up. And how that was a pleasure to put up this year. Usually I spend about 3 hours just putting lights on the tree. There are more
than enough lights on this tree, it was fun to put up with PJ, while Eric sat on the computer looking for Christmas music.

See, Eric did help to put his ornaments on the tree. That was fine. It was something that PJ and I got to do together.

I have been busy trying to get some shawls done for someone. Everytime that I made one, I ended up taking it out because I didn't like it, or it grew the wrong way. And although it doesn't take me long, I am still working at them. They will be done very soon.

As for Chuck's surgery, it was Tuesday, Dec 9th. Now, that was fun. He called to find out when he was scheduled for, 12:30 surgery time, had to be there by 10. Ok, not a problem. He was told it would only be a 15 - 20 minute surgery. We just didn't think we would be there as long as we were.

We got there about 9:40, got him in a room and just waited. Waited for everytone to show up with orders and instructions. Now since he couldn't eat before the surgery, I waited to eat. I hit the cafeteria while he was waiting to be taken back to surgery.

I got back up to the room and around 11:45 they finally took him away. Ok, I didn't read everything and thought they would start right away. It was an hour or more before they even got to him. They had to put him to sleep. Here we were thinking it would be a local and that would be it.

I get a page at 1, go to the family conference area and wait, wait, wait. Some Dr showed up looking for another family. Turns out I had the wrong pager, comforting, isn't it? I find out they hadn't even started on him yet. So, I head back to the room and then decide I would be more comfortable in the family waiting area, that way I don't have to rush to get to the elevator and then to the waiting area. There wasn't anyone in there, so I took my crocheting and sat there.

I jumped when the pager went off. Scared me half to death! It was loud and vibrating madly. I waited until the surgeon came in. He was very nice and very young! But he told me about the incision that was made and what he had to do. Instead of going into the joint to fix what was wrong, they cut about 1/4 inch off his collarbone and scraped bone spurs off the bone as well. Patched it up with bone wax and closed him up. We originally thought that it was tendon damage and that would be repaired. In the end, it was an arthritic end with bone spurs that was causing all the pain.

I went up and waited some more, alone, waiting on them to return him to the room. Now, I know that he was doped up, so he doesn't remember much of anything. Going to the bathroom was a challenge, and I forgot to turn on the water for him, that caused him a lot of pain. Getting things in order for him was kinda hard too, he was fussy, of course and grumpy, so I had to let all that go and just do the best that I could.

He kept the food down and we finally went home. And he didn't like the way I was driving the MB, so he mentioned for me to slow down, although I wasn't going all that fast. We got him home and settled for a bit, get the pain pills and just wait out the night.

We we at the hospital until 4:30. And we were both tired. He didn't sleep well the night before due to my legs twitching and I knew that sleeping in the recliner wasn't going to work well either, but he tried to lay down, that didn't work well at all.

Getting shirts on and off, washing hair, brushing teeth, putting on deodorant, all little things that we take for granted, is very hard for Chuck to do right now. Buttoning shirts, putting on socks, you don't think of this stuff. You don't realize how much you miss something until it is gone. And right now, he can't use his right arm much at all.

The pain today is still there. He still has his moments, and I understand. I am home until later today, and then I work tonight. I will be home in the mornings to help him get dressed and make breakfast for him. But then I have to work tomorrow and Friday until 4. The boys get home from school and they will be here to help out some too. But you know, kids really don't know what they can do to help much.

And as for me, well, I am tired. Doing it all is rough, but add a person that does need help for a few days, that is just very tiring on me. I will be ok though, it is just for a few days. Sleeping alone in bed when he is on the other end of the house was weird too. Told him to text me if he needed something. That was funny! Didn't get any texts last night from him though. I texted him when I woke up at 6 this morning. I heard the rest of the house up, so I got up too. Plus it stormed here last night. PJ told me, "I just covered my head up, I didn't want to bother you while you were sleeping." There were moments last night that the entire house shook, it was that bad!

I haven't even had time to get gifts ready to mail, to wrap or to make. This holiday season has been busier than normal for me.

I do have one comment to make though, to all that have offered to come out and help some, that offered to cook something for us, I want to thank you. For my church family, although I haven't been to church because of the fact that I have to work on Sundays, you have forgotten about me and my family. In a time of need, you haven't been there. No meals were offered from you, no help was offered either. Now, I got my list made up for groceries and I planned out everything carefully as to what would be easy for Chuck to cut up and eat. So, I took care of that. But no one called me to find out how he was doing, how I was doing. No one showed up at the hospital, my mother-in-law offered, but we thought it would only be a short surgery. But as for the church family, I haven't heard from anyone. Not even a text, only when I texted out to people what was going on. I would like to say thank you for all that you have done for my family, but I can't. I am hurt by all of this. My friends that aren't Christians have been more supportive than a church that I thought was full of friends.

I am putting my soapbox back under my bed until next time.

Gobble til ya Wobble!

2008-11-28T07:18:00.000-08:00

Happy Thanksgiving y'all!

Oh my, I love this time of year. Thanksgiving has got to be my most favorite holiday. I love cooking for all, getting the table decorated and using the good dishes. You know those dishes that you only use once or twice in a lifetime. I try to use ours more than that a year.

We got up and had breakfast. And then get the turkey started. I don't do turkey. I let Chuck have some hand in Thanksgiving, so he is in charge of that and the dressing. I don't do dressing only because I just can't make the stuff. I have once or twice, but other than that, nope. I had the cornbread already made.

We got the turkey out, washed up and seasoned up. Ok, so this year we wanted a Cajun turkey. Fine with me, the spicier the better, but since we were feeding the rest of the family, it was better that we don't make it too spicy. I have another turkey in the freezer, that one will be spicy for all of us.

He sprayed it with cooking spray so it wouldn't stick to the bag. Put it in the bag and let it go. He made some dressing, fresh sage and homemade cornbread, very good. Got that in the pan, and his turn for cooking was done.

Everything was ready to go at 1. We had the potatoes nice and warm. Sweet potatoes in crockpot #1 and green beans in crockpot #2. Relish out, butter softened. Rolls cooked and ready to go. Everything was out and now let's eat!
The kids in one room . Ah the good ole days....
The others in the kitchen
My father-in-law asked for more mac and cheese. It was the pototoes, but I guess there was enough cheese in them for anyone to think they were mac and cheese. Now all that was left was the mess that needed to be cleaned up, a little game of football

, a little time with cousins, a cup of coffee and dessert, conversation with parents , and a time to smile and rest

Nap time! Clean up, go home and go back for more.

My turn to cook

2008-11-28T06:54:00.000-08:00

Wednesday before Thanksgiving has been a day that I have been off for the past 4 years. Things change, jobs change, so I had to work that night. But that didn't stop me from cooking all day Wednesday.

I laid in bed planning out my attack, start with the things that would not take so long in the oven and go from there. I knew what needed to be made, I knew what I had to do, it was just getting it all started. I also wanted everything done, so that way the only 2 things left to be done on Thursday would be the turkey and dressing, no stuffing though :(.

I got up and made breakfast, biscuits and gravy for all. Why not? We are all home, let's have a nice breakfast before I take control of the kitchen.

Chuck sat in his chair most of the day, barking orders to the boys as to what needed to be cleaned. I cooked while they cleaned. It was a very busy day. Very busy, and I had to work that night.

So, I started out with the green beans, we all know they are just green beans, but in the South, you cook them all day long. Add some bacon, salt and pepper and let them cook until there is no water, add more water and cook some more. It really is an all day process. Not like what I was used to growing up, open the can, heat them up, put butter on them. Totally different. I started them because of the fact that we were eating at 1 on Thursday and there wasn't enough time to have them done the right way. My game plan was to cook them and then the next day put them in the crockpot .

Next I thought the cake would be a good idea. It had to cool completely before cutting into it to divide it. So, bake that first and then let that cool. While that was cooking, I had the cream cheese out for the filling and all that went into it. It was a Pumpkin Spice cake with this cream filling.
Now when it was time to serve it, I put caramel and pecans over top of it. This was really good!

While the cake was cooking, I washed and scrubbed and pierced the potatoes for the Twice Baked Potato Casserole. I made this last Christmas and it was a hit. My dad came over the other day and mentioned that he watched Emeril and was talking about this casserole he made. He went on and on about how he ruined it with all the cheese. I told him that I made it last Christmas. Of course this went on and on.... No, not that one, yes, that one, you know the one you went back for thirds on. Oh no, I wouldn't eat that. Well, yes you did, you liked it, and even said how good it was.

Now on to the next project. A few years ago I found this recipe for sweet potatoes in the crockpot. I thought that would be a good idea. When I thought about it, several years ago, I had my dad's wife make them. She asked and asked about what she could make, and I told her that would be the easiest to bring over. They weren't that good, she burned them, in the crockpot. This year when I mentioned it again, Chuck was a little hesitant about it. But I went ahead and made them anyways, Eric loves them. Along with the pecan-orange butter that went on top of them
Turns out these potatoes were outstanding. Cooked perfectly, nice and creamy potatoes. I generally don't care for sweet potatoes, but when cooked like this, they are amazing!

My one last thing that needed to be done was the Cranberry Relish. Ever since I started making my own cranberry relish, it seems as if they now demand it for Thanksgiving. Funny, growing up we would forget that the cranberry sauce was in the fridge, now it is the first thing out when we set up the countertop.
Now, I change mine around a bit. I put walnuts in mine. They all like it and most of the time it all goes.

One last thing for the day, Eric's pumpkin pie. And I forgot to take a pic of it. He makes the best, I mean the BEST pumpkin pie. He is like me, he wants everything to be perfect when he cooks. A very good trait to have. So, he made everything, measured it all and baked it up. Before I left for work, it was done and out of the oven. BUT while it was cooling on the rack, I open the cabinet door over head, and out falls a box of baggie. A little damage, not much, but still. The pie was wonderful.

My day in the kitchen was over and now it was off to work. Busy night, fun night, glad that I got all I needed done that morning. I didn't get home until 11. So, I spent all day, literally, all day in the kitchen. Started at 8 and got done about 5. All worth it, everything looked so good. Now, let's see how it tastes.

New furniture

2008-11-26T13:12:00.000-08:00

I have been so stinkin' busy, that I haven't had time to breath here lately. But before I go into work today I thought I would share with you our new furniture.

Last Saturday Chuck decided that he was going to look at stuff for the bedroom and the great room. We bought a new plasma in February and it has been on the wall. You get tired of looking at the wires from everything laying around everywhere. And with Thanksgiving coming, we wanted the house to look really nice. So, he finds 2 things that are needed in the house. I will show them in a minute.

This was in Eric's room, which is now in PJ's room

This was orginally my dresser and growing up this is what I used. When we got married, we used it for years.

Ok, so since Eric lost his dresser, which he was really attached to. He got our old dresser

Now, we bought this when we bought the house. The one that we were using was old and falling apart and it was time for an upgrade. I made those curtains in his room. They were the first ones I ever made.

Ok, so Chuck goes shopping and finds this:
It is gorgeous. I love it. It opens up to a place where a rod hangs. He picked this out so that way the clothes that were in the dresser could be put on hangers and put up. Not in the closet that was so tightly packed as it was. I got rid of some clothes and cleaned a lot of stuff that I packed around for years. Things that really aren't needed. The chair in the corner was Chuck's great grandparents or great-great grandparents. Not sure, all I know it is old. And I haven't gotten the other curtains done, but one window is complete. I have been cleaning and haven't had time to get the other window done yet, but I am very pleased with the one window.

Now since we moved all the furniture in the great room, it is a bit more cozier and smaller. But it is the warmest room in the house in the winter, and coolest one in the summer. So, it was a smart move. Anyway, like I said, we bought the plasma and it has been on the wall. Kinda of a pain to look at it, to hang it too was rough. But the wires had been hanging down, they were all bunched up in the back, a real eyesore. So, Chuck went looking and he found something that he liked, but it was more like an armoire and not an entertainment center. He wanted something that we could put the sewing machine in and the blankets too. Something to get rid of the clutter. So, we went back and I spotted an entertainment center that would work perfectly. He was concerned about the color, but I like the darker wood. Everything in the room is light colored and it really needed something that had color.

I am very pleased with the way that the rooms came out. Eric is not happy with the dresser, but he is getting older and he will need more room. PJ needed the other one. He has been living out of a dresser that was his grandmothers. It is old and very cute, also very small and he really needed something. I went in his room last night and he said, "Thank you, I needed a space for my underwear and my socks. Now, they are in 2 different drawers."

PJ's addiction

2008-11-20T18:10:00.000-08:00

Funny, ever since my dad moved down here I see the boys eat more things that are different to the area. PJ is the one that will try something and then end up liking it. He loves Boar's Head mustard and potato chips. He and my dad will go through a 1/2 bag in no time. But they have to be kettle chips, they can't be the ruffles.

When my dad moved down here 7 years ago, he brought some foods with him that were different. He would go to NYC and get a kielbasa, the real thing. Oh my, PJ went nuts over that. He loves pierogies, that is my kid, and he realized that he loves

My dad brought it over once, a few years ago. Now, no one else liked it, but PJ and I ate it up. Then I started finding this at The Fresh Market. I bought it a few times and then forgot about it.

A few weeks ago at Publix, while I was getting the lunch meat, there it was

Oh my goodness, I had to buy it. I just had to get it. Ok, so I buy it, tell him about it when he gets home, Eric snarls his nose at it, Chuck says "I don't see the big deal." PJ is on the floor begging for a piece. "Please make some for breakfast for me, please. I will pay anything." Not a problem, I know he likes the stuff. But little did I know how much.

The following week, I am at the deli again, and decided again that it was not a big deal for me to buy more Taylor Ham or Pork Roll. Depending on where you are from in NJ, is what you call it. I am from the middle of the state, so I call it either one. Anyway, I get home, PJ gets home and starts looking for it. He knew I went shopping and he knew what I was buying.

Well, last week I decided that I was not gonna buy any Taylor Ham this week. But I spotted the box in with the breakfast meats. I went ahead and bought that. PJ, once again, came home and started rummaging through the drawer looking for "his" Taylor Ham. I showed him the box and he commented, "all mine!" How funny is that!

Ok, so it is a Jersey thing. Along with Freeman's Bakery with their powdered sugar crumb cakes, butterscotch krimpets and Tastykakes, don't forget real salt water taffy from Atlantic City. I know that I miss all that stuff, but it is fun to find that stuff around here and introduce them to the family.

I really think that PJ would be very happy with the foods in NJ. And he is ready to try some new things.

Something new, not borrowed, and not blue

2008-11-18T18:06:00.000-08:00

As I mentioned before, we have been in our house for 8 years. And of course I made all kinds of curtains for the house. Eric was first and his are of the moon and stars. It took him forever to pick out the material. He searched and searched for the right stuff, because he knew that he would have to live with it for a long time. I paid full price for them. I didn't know any better, so I got the fabric from Wal-Mart, and was very happy with the outcome. PJ finally got rid of the rid vine curtains this past year. I found some really outdoorsy fabric at Wilson when they had their Spring sale. It was only $1 a yard, for some very heavy duty fabric. He loves it and he is very happy with his curtains. It keeps the lightening out during storms, but still lets the morning sun in on nice days. Our bathroom got some curtains last year, right after Christmas.

We lived with these awful curtains in there, and I found this stuff when a local place was going out of business. I was afraid that I didn't get enough, but it worked out nicely.

As for the other bathroom, you have seen what I have done in there. I am really happy with what I have been able to do.

But now, we have done nothing to our bedroom. Living with curtains that don't match. A set that I bought when we lived in Knoxville and then something that I picked up a few years ago. Couldn't find what I wanted to put in there, didn't want to spend the money that they were charging for them, or just didn't feel like buying anything at all. So, for 8 years, we have had mismatched curtains.

Now, we won't have to worry about that. I bought that material from Wilson's and was very happy with the choice. I knew what I wanted to do. But I only had 15 yards, I really wanted some that went to the floor, but I didn't have that much to make them with. And once again, I am not good with measurements, so, I had to hem and haw over the length of them. I measured once, measured again, and measured once more. Added the hem and the top inches and thought it through one more time. Finally, I got a number that worked. It gave me a length that worked well for me, it gave the gathering at the top too. So, I went with it. I cut the fabric the other day, and I will end up attaching about 19" to the bottom of one. That one will be behind the dresser. Everything else was measured twice, cut once. A good rule to live by.

And then today I decided to get it together. Between the heating unit and Chuck going into work for a little while, it took me a while to get it rolling. But, I got 2 done tonight, and I don't have to be at work until 5:30 tomorrow. Chuck has a meeting and I will be home alone, so, I will work on curtains for a little while.

This is what I have so far:
I am really happy with them. And they are even too! Sometimes they don't come out right, but this time, they are perfect.

Look what I got!

2008-11-18T15:35:00.000-08:00

Ok, before posting any pics about what I got. I need to tell you a story first. Not a long one, but still in all, a story.

When my dad moved down here in 2001, I spotted this fabulous dough board that I just loved. I told him that when he dies I was getting that board. He did everything on that dough board. All of his pie doughs, bread doughs, cookies, pierogi dough, babka dough and whatever else he made. He used that board all the time. I loved it, and I wanted it.

He bought himself a very nice bread machine, so, he didn't use that board as much. I asked and asked for it, but he didn't want to give it up. He still made pierogis and babkas, so he "kneaded" it. Ha ha, a little baker's humor.

Yesterday we went on our shopping trip. This time it was my turn to drive. He got over to the house, grabbed a cup of coffee, moved his car, got his bags and waited on me. I got out there and got everything in the car, ready to go. He told me, "there is something in the back seat for you." Ok, I thought he was talking about my car. I have the Pizza Hut topper in the back of my car. But he was talking about his car, he unlocked the door and I went to the car to find this:

I was so excited! I couldn't wait to get it in the house, but we had to go shopping. All the way down he told me how he made it. Not to use any water on it, don't cut any meats on it, only use it for dough and that is all. He told me how he bought a small sander, sanded it, and then the thing blew up on him. He took that back to the store. He told me how he got the wood for this too. He said that he was talking to the man at Home Depot, the one that sells the heating units, he had some wood from New Zealand that was left over and asked if my dad wanted it. He won't turn down anything like that. He would find something to do with it and he did.

He told me what happened to his. Turns out, his fell apart. He had it for years, but the craftsmanship wasn't his up to his standard. It lasted a long time and he used it many times.

Now I have some dough boards, but they aren't like this one. They are a lot thinner and they are good for somethings, but this one is flush with the countertop and I don't have to lean over and hurt my back making things.

On our way home from Publix we stopped at the restaurant supply store. Oh my goodness, I was like a kid in a candy store! It was AWESOME! But I found a really nice dough scraper. So that way I don't have to use anything else on this board.

He told me "It is made out of love." I know that. He will be 70 next week, and I know that he worked really hard on this. This is something that will be around long after I am gone too.

Time for some changes

2008-11-18T14:54:00.000-08:00

We have lived here 8 years. I love my house. It isn't snotty or snooty. It isn't a dump or a hole in the wall either. It is perfect for all of us. It suits our needs and we have the most property then most of the people that live on the same street. People would love to have the land that we have.

Over the years we have done some things to the house. Painted the all white living room, all oil paint living room, to green and brown. I love the pecan color, it is a nice accent wall. We have painted Eric's room, painted the kitchen, put new flooring down in the kitchen, tore up the carpeting in the living room and moved our main stuff into the great room. I have also made curtains for most of the house.

My first project was the shower curtain for the bathroom. My neighbor showed me how to sew and she helped me create the shower curtain, all 7 yards of it. I liked it, took me a long time to pick out the fabric, and I was proud to show it off.

A few months ago, I decided that I was really tired of all that fabric hanging there, catching all the dust, toothpaste and hairspray. And that I was gonna do something different with it. I couldn't find the fabric for the curtains, I got tired of the little topper that was hanging there, so I decided to take the shower curtain down and do something with it. I knew what I wanted, it was just creating it that was gonna be a slight problem. All the measuring and numbers are not my strong point, so I had to think about all of this for a while and then go from there.

I knew that I wanted a topper for the shower and of course curtains for the window. It was just figuring out all that I needed for it. So, I came up with this.

Now the first time I made it, it didn't measure evenly across. It was a little off, so I had to take it down and work on it. I got it right. Ok, now the window was next. I made 2 curtains and hung them up, but I didn't like the way they looked with the mini blinds, I am really trying to get rid of all of them. I hate them. But the one in the bathroom was dusty, and even though Eric washed it once a month, it just didn't come out right.

I wanted the mini blind gone and something behind it. But I am so picky about what I make, that it takes me forever to find exactly what I am looking for. It has to be just right, or I won't like it at all. And then I will be disappointed in the long run.

I was shopping at Wal-Mart yesterday looking at some of the fabrics. Just looking for something to put in place of the blind. I looked at a shear cotton, didn't like it. Looked at some darker, like a cream color cotton, didn't care for that either. Walked around the corner and there it was, this material that I thought would work perfectly, but it was bridal fabric.
But it was something that I really liked. So, of course I bought that and I picked up the spring rod and went on my way.

I got home and waited until Chuck went to work, and then I went to work on what I was going to make. This stuff is a bear to work with and I don't think I will work with this much again. But I measured out the the top, sewed it, and then off to the bottom. I think it was cut crooked so, I pinned it crooked. I knew how many inches I wanted, so I had to go from there. Measure and re-pin, measure and re-pin. Finally I got it right, well almost right. It turned out nice. I was very happy with it and Chuck liked it too. He agreed with me that the blinds had to go, and it was time for a change too. I know that the sheer is really sheer, but the top curtains pull easily to close them up.

I am pleased with it. It was time for a change. Time for something different.

Clank, Clank, Clank

2008-11-18T14:43:00.000-08:00

.... not the Trolley, my central heat and air unit. Yep, that is the noise that we heard out of it yesterday while Chuck and I were sitting around. We went outside, heard this awful noise, turned it down and went on our way. Thought that it was something that was not coming back. BUT....

We heard it again today and decided to call to have them come out and look at it. They told us it would be between 2 and 5 when they got here. As with the refrigerator, it was closer to 5, isn't that the way it always happens?

Before they came out I called the utilities to talk to them about financing a new unit. They charge $7K for them to finance it through a bank, pay on that for 10 years at 6% interest. Ok, that is a lot of money.

The guy comes out and looks at the unit, it is the outdoor motor fan that has gone out on it. It will cost a bit over $400 to fix it, but, and I mean BUT.... the unit is 16 years old and at this point it could nickel and dime us to death. Time to make a decision.

Now Chuck is at work and I hate making any decision without him being here. I forget to ask questions and then I have to go back and ask them. I look like a retard, but he isn't here to ask, so I have to ask. They do finance, but at a 17.9% rate, no matter what your credit rating is, but this is for 5 years, not 10 like the utilities. Also it is $2000 less than what the utilities charge. Big difference, but the interest rate is outrageous!

What to do, what to do? We decided to get it fixed and then when the next problem occurs, go from there. It could be tomorrow or 3 years down the road. The unit is supposed to last for 20 years, so I would rather take the chance and wait,then to put out that kind of money right now. At least in the winter time, you can buy heaters. If it happens in the summer, it has to be fixed, no matter what.

The many school projects so far

2008-11-14T06:30:00.000-08:00

We have been busy with all kinds of school projects. Eric has had some fun with his, they are more detailed oriented and gives him a challenge too.

When school started I knew that we would have some projects, I just didn't expect to have so many this far into the school year. So, let's start with Eric.

Eric's Geography class had to draw a map from home to school. He had to have the route that we take everyday to school. Ok, not too bad, but he wanted to add more to it. The first draft came out ok, but Eric started to color the streets black, and made a complete mess of it. So, I sketched out another one, showed him how to do the streets and gave him places that the landmarks are at. He had to have a compass rose on it and a key of what everything was. He got 103 on it. The teacher was very pleased with the amount of work he did put into this.

Eric also had a car to make in Engineering Tech (shop) class. He had so much fun with this. He got the wood and drew out what he wanted. This was the class that Chuck went to help out at. He helped them cut the cars out and then the kids would bring them home to sand and paint. In the long run, Eric's came out pretty cool.

Add wheels to it, and he was on his way. They put an airgun in the back of it and shot it on to a strip. His did pretty good, got another 100 on that too.

Ok, so now the fun one for all of us to see how it works. Eric came home a few weeks ago and told us that he had a project for Science class. Ok, what can this be???? A rubberized egg. He was so excited that he had to start it right away. He had a paper that he had to follow the instructions on and to list all that he saw happening to the egg. Use vinegar, what kind, what kind of egg.... you know, they want all details.

So he started it, observed it, kept notes on it. Didn't follow directions all the way through and tried to bounce it. SPLAT! That one didn't work. I missed it, I was at work, but I did think it was rather funny. Now, let's start all over again and follow all of the directions. This time he did, observed it, bagged it up, took it to school and was the first one in his class to turn it in. It wasn't due until the 10th, but he was so excited that he had to turn it in. They bounced it 5 cm at a time, his bounced all the way from a 25 cm drop and SPLAT, but this time it was in a baggie, sealed up, no mess to clean up. Once again, another 100 for another project.

PJ has had 2 projects so far this year, and I do think that is all he will have. The first was the cell. I know that when Eric did it, we used pizza dough and all the stuff from pizza that made up the cell. All the other kids had done the styrofoam ball, cut it out and did what they wanted to. And every year, I would see the same thing. So, when it came to PJ's turn, I really didn't want him to do what every other kid did. So, that is why the jello came into play. He did a good job on it, got a good grade and it was rather different. Unlike the little boy that printed a copy off the internet.

And lastly, PJ had to make an instrument for music class. Things don't change much in school. I am prepared for the upcoming projects, because I already know what to expect. PJ came home all excited about this one, "Oh I have to make a rain stick" Well, great, now what??? I found a cylinder at work and the one manager told me how to make it, easy enough. Just getting the nails through this thick cardboard was a kicker! PJ had the easy part, pour rice in there, seal it up, and wrap paper around it. Nothing special, but it was kinda cool. He came home and said there were so many cool things. But his was the only rain stick that worked right!

So far, that is all they have done. They have kept me busy with all of this, but I have fun with them. I am sure there will be more to come.

PJ and Chorus

2008-11-13T07:31:00.000-08:00

Oh I am so proud of PJ and his love for chorus. He makes sure that every Friday he is there on time for practice. He walks around the house singing the songs that he has learned and loves what he is doing. What he doesn't realize is that this opens the door for him to join choir and drama in Middle School. This is a good opportuntity for him.

Well, I worked last night and got home after they went to bed. I know that PJ is not a sleeper right away, so I knew that he was up. I walked down the hallway, asked him if he was still awake and I get this bright eyed response --- "Oh yes mommy! But I have to ask you a question."

Ok, I am game, "What is it buddy?" "Well, I don't know if I want to try out for Santa or sing a solo. What do you think?" I told him that either one would be great to get and that maybe he should try out for both, just in case he didn't get the other. He said, "I asked Mrs. James if she could wait until Monday for my decision, that I had to talk it over with you before I decided on anything." HA HA! I love it. We did talk, and when I finally got out of his room, "Mommy, thanks for the advice, I knew you would have the right answer." Now, he knows that if he doesn't get a part this year, that next year he stands a better chance at it, because he will be in 5th grade.

But, deep down inside, I hope he gets something. I will let y'all know what happens with this part of his very busy life!

My date with my dad

2008-11-13T07:19:00.000-08:00

For the past several months, my dad and I head to Publix in Chattanooga for our shopping. It started out once a month and now we go every other Monday. I like it, it is time together and time for us to just talk about anything. We have a good time.

This past week we hit Sam's and then went shopping. He goes his way, I go mine and in the end, we always meet up.

But as we were talking on Monday, I realized that when Sam's and Publix come to Cleveland, there goes our dates. There goes our shopping trips. Although I love the fact that both stores will be coming to town, I know that our time together like that will come to an end. So, I have to make the most of it while I can.

When we were driving down the road this time, my dad asked if I had ever been to Robbinsville NC. I told him that I hadn't, but may take the boys for a ride one day out there. He mentioned that he and his wife were gonna go Monday, just for a cup of coffee and a nice ride. I thought that was nice, it isn't all that far and just to get out of the house for a little while together is fun. But when we got back to the house, he asked, "Are you off Monday?" And I usually am and of course next week I am off Monday. But I didn't want to break it to him that I didn't want to go anywhere with his wife, so I didn't push the issue. But he told me that if he could get everything together, he and I will go for coffee to Robbinsville NC, leave about 8:30and be back by about 1. Well, that was nice of him to offer. He said, "don't call the house asking about it, I don't want any trouble for going anywhere with you." That is fine, I won't call and ask, I will just plan on going with him and my handy, dandy camera.

Hopefully, we will be able to keep our monthly trips to where ever when the stores open in town.

Update on Chuck's shoulder

2008-11-13T07:09:00.000-08:00

I haven't been online much. I am either too tired when I get home or just don't want to be bothered with anything. I do read my blogs on my phone, along with emails and other things. But posting a blog from my phone is just a pain in the neck.

Anyways, Chuck went to the Dr's last week after he had a very expensive MRI done. No wonder people don't go to the dr's, it is a fortune. Everytime Chuck steps foot in the Dr's office it is $88, that is the 20% that we have to pay to meet the deductible. WOW! Can you imagine how much a bill would be if you didn't have insurance!

Anyway, he has an inpingement on his right shoulder. Basically it is where there tendon came loose and knotted up, I can feel the lump right under the skin. So, he can wait a few month and do the surgery or he can do it shortly. He had decided on waiting until after Christmas, but the PT would move into next year, and that is a new deductible. But then the pain started to get really bad, so he bumped it up to Dec 9th. That will be good for all of us. The boys get out of school for break around the 19th or so, and Chuck isn't planning on going back to work until New Year's Day. I don't mind him being at home. He needs the rest anyways.

The surgery is non-evasive. If he waited, he stood the chance of everything coming unraveled and then tearing the rotator cuff. This way is it taken care of sooner, no major surgery. And the Dr. is planning on having him in PT the following week. If he was to go back to work any sooner, it would be on very limited duty. Well, I think that some time off will do him good. We all need a break sometimes, so he gets his at the holidays. That is nice though.

So, when I find more out, you will know too. Please keep him in your prayers. I will keep you updated.

A ride with the boys

2008-11-13T06:46:00.000-08:00

The boys and I took off for a ride on Election Day. They were off, so was I. So, I decided to head to Wilson's Fabrics. Twice a year they have a sale on their fabric. It is not the stuff at Wal-Mart, this is drapery material, upholstery material, interior design stuff. Heavy duty stuff. In the Spring we went and found material for PJ's curtains, $1 a yard, bought 12 yards and still have some left over. This time I wanted to find something for our bedroom. We have been here 8 years and still don't have matching curtains in our room. So, I thought I was gonna find something.

I searched and searched, asked Eric what he thought of things, while PJ decided to talk politics. HA! I was there forever, or what seemed like forever looking at all the fabrics. I knew I didn't want any flowers, that wouldn't be really fair to Chuck, so that was off the list. I didn't want anything really bright, yellows, or things in that color range, so that was off the list too. It came down to 2 different kind of striped fabric. One had blue and red in it, I liked it, and at $5 a yard, you can't go bad. But the other had more color in it, green, red, muted colors, and at $3 a yard, you really can't go wrong.

This is what came home with me. Less than $50 for 4 windows. Now, I just have to get started on them. And with Thanksgiving coming up, the windows may have to be put on hold.

It waas a gorgeous day for the pretty ride that we had got to take. I got to the gas station on the corner, down the road from the fabric store and was shocked to see that gas was $2.06 a gallon. Oh my, I had to fill up. That lasted me the entire week! It is just now down to that level here in town. Took almost 2 weeks for us to get it at that price.

But on our way home, we got coffee and cocoa and enjoyed our ride out and about. I know the area well, I always take my camera with me, but never seem to take the time to stop and look around. White Oak mountain is the backway around the interstate and it can get very busy, so I really don't take much of a chance to take pictures. But I decided that I was gonna stop for a few shots, not much, but still.

Most of the ride out there was just for us to talk. That is one of the reasons why I do take rides with the boys. It gives us a chance to talk, not about one certain thing, but really what they want to talk about. If Eric wants to talk about football, we do. If PJ wants to talk about whatever, we do. It is a time for them to relax, enjoy and unwind too.

On our way home I searched and searched for places to take some pics. And right before getting back into civilization, I spotted this piece of antique farm equipment. I don't know what it is about me and finding this stuff, but it is fun. I love exploring the area. It holds so many corners that we all seem to forget is out there.

The barn was right there too when I stopped for the one picture. I parked the car and the man in the field started coming my way. I took out the camera and took my picture and left. He walked away when he saw that I was only there taking a few pics. Sometimes people are so picky about what they want pictures taken of, but he didn't bother me.

So, now I have some more curtains to make, some crocheting to be done, some Christmas to be taken care of, some more rides to take and some more time with the family.

Through Eyes that don't look at skin color

2008-11-04T09:54:00.000-08:00

I am warning y'all up front, this isn't gonna be pretty. If you don't want to read it, just go on your way, no hard feelings. But I have something to say, and after what I saw this morning, I am gonna say it.

#1 I voted for Barack Hussain Obama. You know the middle name is just a name, no one knew anything of Saddam Hussain when his parents picked that name for him. It is just a name, just coincedence that his middle name is the same as a very evil man. One has nothing to do with another. His name is not Osama Bin Laden, not Saddam Hussain. He is an American, he is a smart man, and even though he is liberal, he will bring about change in this country.

#2 For the stupid ass, inconsiderate, idiot that took a knife to my sign, I know you aren't reading this because your intelligence level not even on the radar. How dare you come into my yard and tear up a sign stating whom I support.
You didn't go anywhere else on this street and do it, but you thought it was ok to show your displeasure of my choice for President and tear it up. What era do you live in? What decade are you from? What is next? Burning a cross in my front yard?????? This is the year 2008, we don't live in the 60's or even the 70's, we don't have separate water fountains or eating places anymore. We are one nation. Everyone has a right to their opinion, mine is that I support Obama/Biden.
Grow up! Accept the fact that a black man may be our next President, accept the fact that all races have the right to set a goal and reach for it, accept the fact that you are not the only race out there. All you see is that he is a black man. All you see is that he will enslave the white race, all you know is the garbage that you hear, that you read on the internet, all you know is that having a black man as the President is not right.

#3 If Barack Obama wins, can you imagine the doors that will be open for other races to run for President. What I am wondering is this... If Bobby Jindal, Republican governor of Louisana, an American with Indian parents, and I mean, Hindu parents, decides to run for President, will the same jackasses come in my yard and tear that sign up too. Even though he is a very conservative Republican, does the color of his skin mean that he can't become President.

#4 I don't care who I upset because I voted for Obama. He is not a Muslim. Don't you think that would have leaked out somewhere down the line that he prayed everyday on his prayer mat, don't you think that someone would have said something about his religious veiwpoints. No, I don't agree with Jerimiah Wright, but who are we to judge? Doesn't the Bible say "Judge not, lest ye be judged."

Now, why did I vote for Obama, ok, so what he is a black man, with a funny name. I voted for him because I don't care for McCain. Sarah Palin scares me to death. For those of you that have sent me the emails about a friend of "Sara" Palin, if they were any kind of friend, she would have known to spell her name the right way. I am tired of Bush style Economics. I am scared that we will go so far to the right. You know, if Obama wins, and we go so far to the left, at least in 4 years the Republicans can win back that seat.

I know that Obama is liberal, but there are things in this world that we need to make our own choices. He isn't teaching 5 year olds about sex, that was taken all out of context. I think overturning Roe v. Wade is a mistake. I don't support abortion at all. But if my state of TN decides that they will not allow abortions, then they go to GA. Or worse yet, the back alleys again. What if a woman's life depended on it and she had to choose to either die or give her child life? She chooses her own life, but knows there is no way for her to live, she dies because the state didn't allow it. Or if she could get one, she is heartbroken everyday that she decided to live, but not let her child live. She has to live with that.
I had the option to abort PJ because of the problems that he could potentially have. I didn't, I let the Lord handle him. And we all know the outcome there.

I voted for Obama because of the fact that he is down to earth, a real human being. "My friends" ----- How do you call me friend Sen. McCain? Do you know anything about me, do you know anything about what I have gone through this year, do you know anything about the family on the other side of town that lost their house because they lost a job and couldn't pay the payment, they live on one paycheck, off of foodstamps, live on handouts. Are they your friend sir? Do you know their name? Do you know the problems that they have been through? You call us your friend, how can we be your friend when you haven't paid a lick of attention to us, to the need in the nation, to the "fundamentally strong economy".

As for the taxes that Barack Obama will raise for people that make over $250K. Ya know what Joe the Plumber.... YOU CAN AFFORD TO PAY YOUR TAXES if you make that much money. If you bring in that much money, quit living above your means, and pay your damn taxes like the rest of us. The middle class gets hit so hard. We are the largest class, and we are the ones that, basically, receive nothing. The lower class citizens are offered food stamps, welfare, housing. The upper class can buy all that they need, the middle class, like my family, isn't offered housing, food stamps, welfare, electrical assistance. We have to make our own way, and when you lose a job, look for another, get shot down a 100 times, you start to worry about the family, the food, the house. You start to get discouraged that the one paycheck isn't gonna cut it at all. And then you wonder how is the mortgage gonna be paid. Do we give up the car for this months house payment, ok, then next month, what gets cut to make ends meet again.
I know, I have been there. Done the interviews, turned down, rejected. Wondered how on earth are we gonna make it on one paycheck. Wondered if the internet, cable and cells get cut off because of the fact that we had to tighten our belts, then wondered next month, what is next that would go. Sell the Jetta? Sell plasma like I have had to do before to put milk in a glass for Eric. Go without the medicines that are much needed right now? Trust me, all of this went through my head. Will we be able to make the house payment.

I voted for Obama because I am tired of seeing people on the street. No, he is not a miracle worker, but he is trying to change the US. He is tired of the way that we are going, he is tired of seeing people hurting, he is tired of paying for a war that should have never been started. He isn't gonna save the US, but I feel as if he will make a difference.

I voted for Obama because I wanted to be 1 vote, just ONE vote, that can say that I voted for our first black President. I don't live in the past. I look towards the future. I grew up in the 70's where it still was looked down on to have black friends. I remember going to school in a very conservative town, I never saw a black person in that school until I was in the 8th grade. The majority of the town was white. And this is a time AFTER segregation! This is a time when we should have started to accept ALL people. I was put down for having black friends. Even in the 80's my dad was very wary of me having black friends. The greatest family I ever met in my life. But we are 3/4 of the way through a new decade, 8% of the way through a new century. We all should look at life through eyes that see no color.

Now I live in a very conservative town. Cleveland is the home for the Almighty Church of God and Church of God of Prophecy. Althought the latter of the two doesn't have all that much pull in this town, the other does. People only see the things that are "RIGHT". They protested over a billboard that had a SheDevil on it for a store. You can't have billboards advertising alcoholic beverages. Anything that is morally wrong is not welcomed in this town. And that goes for anyone who goes against the grain. That is Sen Obama. He goes against the grain. He goes against all that the COG stands for.

I am a Christian. I have friends that are Christian professors that support Barack Obama. I don't believe in all that he stands for, at least he isn't out there, like Gov Palin. At least he shows that he is more compassionate, warmer, friendly, and more of a person you can sit down and have a conversation with.

So for all of you out there that has chastised me, put me down, torn me up and whatever else, you know who you are..... I am proud of my vote. I am proud to say that I voted for a black man. Not because he was black, that has nothing to do with it at all. I want to see some kind of change. I want to see us get back to a nation that has something to be proud of. I want to get back to a nation that I can be proud to be an American.

At least Barack Obama has surrounded himself with a support staff to be reckoned with. He has a running mate that showed he is a real person. Rides the train everyday, knows the people at the gas station. Sen McCain knows the servants at all of his 9 homes. Joe Biden lived life, he knows what a death can do to someone, he remembers what it is like to have to sit around the kitchen table to discuss bills. He surrounded himself with brilliant minds. Not people like Joe the Plumber, the same Joe that has bills in collection, the same Joe that is not a licensed plumber, the same Joe that was walking down the street when Sen Obama spoke with him. Barack Obama did not go to the man's house, knocked on his door, and asked him for his vote.

I am tired of people putting me down for my vote. I did what I thought was right. Trust me, if Obama wins and goes too far to the right, the Right will take over in 4 years.

Ok, for the sign in my yard.
Chuck bought Eric another one. I wanted Eric to have his piece of history. Someone in school stole his Obama/Biden sticker off his binder. One kid in school looked at Eric and said "I hope Obama gets elected, so that way someone can kill him." Isn't it great the way to raise your children? One child in PJ's class looked at him the other day, "I hope Obama gets elected so I can go to Washington and shoot him." How do you raise your children? Is that the way Christians should be raised to view a way to shoot the President? I know the one boy in Eric's school. He has gone to school with Eric for years, I know the family. I am disappointed to see this, I was shocked and appauled by the way the kids treated Eric in school over a sticker on his folder.

If I want to be in a liberal world, I live in the wrong city, county and state. I try to show my support and what happens, most likely one of my neighbors, or someone I know took a knife to my sign. Showed my children that who I supported was wrong. Showed my children that they don't have a right to their opinion. We are raising them to have their own minds, their own opinions, their own viewpoints. I don't want them voting for the person I want in the White House when they are old enough to vote. I want them to vote for the person that they think can do the job.

As for me, if Sen Obama wins, I will be out tomorrow moring, buying the newspapers. I want the boys to remember a part of history. This is huge. This is the real deal. Never in my life did I ever expect to see either A) a black man with the Presidency in reaching distance, or B) although my displeasure, an extremely conservative woman with a chance to be the Vice President. Either way, history is being made, and no matter what, I will always look at life through the eyes that see black or white, but through eyes that see a person.

It's Halloween!

2008-11-01T08:01:00.002-07:00

Ok, I am a day late with this, but by the time I got to the computer last night, I was too tired to even blog about anything. I was too stinkin' tired.

I had to be at work yesterday at 11 and I was hoping that I would get out of there on time to have some time with the boys. I was scheduled out at 6, I worked the night before until 8, I was only to be there until 6. But because of scheduling, I stayed until 8. Being Halloween and being a Friday, we all thought that we were gonna be busy. I had my moments, I worked alone until 3 and then they started piling in. By 5 we had 6 drivers on and only 2 deliveries, not good. I never saw the screen get filled up, I never saw more than 5 on the screen at once. So, at 6:30, I left.

Now, I called my dad earlier to have him take the boys to Trunk or Treat. If you don't know what this is, it is where people get together, decorate their trunks and give out candy, puzzles, or whatever. We have gone the last 3 years, it is a safe environment for the kids, they have food, and inflatables there. So, they have fun. I wanted them to go there too. My dad said that he would take them, little did I know the hell that I would catch for letting them go there. This is from a Church of God in town. They sponser this and they always do a good job.

But #1, Eric was dressed as the Emperor of Evil. A costume that had purple and a silly little necklace, nothing evil about it. PJ was Dracula, again, and he did his own makeup, I should have gotten a pic, but I didn't. Too cute. But my dad's wife wasn't all too happy with the "scary" costumes or the music, Christian rock, that was being played at the Trunk or Treat, or the layout of the entire thing. Christians celebrating Halloween, how could they? We don't celebrate anything, we go and have fun, collect candy and then go through all that we got.

They got home right before I left work. That didn't take long! So, after meeting up with Chuck (read the blog before this one) I got home, and then took them to the mall. Now, the mall is a great place. South Cleveland COG and Westwood Baptist get together and have all kinds of things for the kids to do. The stores at the mall give out candy too. So, by the time you walk the mall, you have a bag full of goodies. You name it, we got it. M & M's, Mr Goodbars, twix, and other things. It is a fun, safe place for the kids to go, a little busy. But at least they are safe, having fun and enjoying their time.

I go through this every year. I catch all kinds of grief for taking the kids trick or treating. But like my friend said, all the other holidays that are "religious" started out as pagan holidays. This isn't a holiday, this is a day when kids have fun.

Just Aggravated

2008-11-01T07:43:00.000-07:00

I have been with Pizza Hut for 4 months now. I enjoy the job and getting out from behind a desk. I work my butt off too, but in the end, the tips are nice and the people are fun to see. I meet all kinds of people, and well, see all things too! HA HA

Anyway, yesterday I found out that my boss is willing to train a 17 year old girl for the next shift manager's position. What a minute, that was supposed to be for me! This girl can't make change in her head, she can't operate a computer well, she can prep stuff, but she has a hard time doing things in the store and is not very good with the customers. So, what in the world is going on? I don't know.

I went to Chuck yesterday, crying and fussing about all of this. I was so mad, and so hurt over this that I just wanted to cry and that was it. But I had to get the boys to the mall, and I didn't have time to feel sorry for myself, I had to go.

Well, he knows how hard I work, he knows that I can handle this stuff, he knows that I will pull this into shape. But that is not what my boss wants. She doesn't want any feathers ruffled, any waves made or any employees unhappy. So, she gets these ideas that she can have this people in there that do the job as lazy and sloppy as can be and then complains about it. I will make waves, I will ruffle the feathers, I will tell the employees what to do, when to do it, and how to do it. I am not a drill seargent, but I have worked in the 'real world' I know what it is like to work a job and to impress people. Get to work on time, leave on time, don't take breaks that are too long. I don't stand around chomping the bit while others work, I work. I work my butt off too. But that didn't impress my boss. Ok, so now what. I was told a month ago that she could train me and then ship me to another store or she can get me through my books and have me when she is ready. I will stay a driver if that is the case. I am not leaving town because she doesn't need me right now, can't afford me, or just doesn't want me. That hurts and it is very hard on me. I am 41, and looks like I will be delivering for the rest of my life.

Chuck knew all night that this was bothering me, and it still does. So what do I do? I wait, I work, I learn all that I can learn. I can watch and observe all that is going on. And if by February or March, I am still there, I want to do this shift manager thing, and maybe work up to an asst manager, then I will go to their boss and talk to him about it. Chuck is more comfortable with me driving, I do well at it, customers love me, they request that I deliver. But the fact of the matter is, you look at a slow girl for a manager's position, when you have someone that will do the job, will do it the right way, and will make a difference.

I believe she has given up on the store and let the prisoners run the show. That is fine. I will take the experience, but don't ask me for help, don't ask me to do any extra work, don't ask me for anything. I am a driver, and that is all there is to it. Find someone else that is willing to cover for someone else, I am not gonna be available when you call anymore. She has other plans and, well, I have a life.

Amazingly Quiet

2008-11-01T07:27:00.000-07:00

Sometime last year, the city banned trucks with 5 axles or more off one certain road in town. The logging trucks would drive way too fast down there, not use the road that is for more commercial traffic. There aren't any lights on this one sretch and they thought that they could get to where they were going faster. But after one house was nearly ripped in half by an accident involving my friend and a logging truck, and one spot where the logging truck turned over, the city decided that there needed to be no more trucks. Very good idea, this one street isn't mainly residential, but there are houses on it, churches and businesses.

I thought at the time that it would be a great idea that they do that on our street. All residential, maybe one or 2 very small, local businesses. No reason for an 18 wheeler to drive through this area. The truck fly down this very busy street because there aren't any lights at all, and they really can get to their destination quicker.

About 3 weeks ago, Chuck and I were on our way back from somewhere, driving down our road, and I noticed that the Public Works Dept was putting up the poles. Turns out they were also putting up signs. "No trucks, 5 axles or more." Yippee! They finally realized that this area didn't need to have all that major traffic in this area.

A few nights ago the boys were watching tv, PJ came running to us, "Um, there is a truck on the street, and there is a little one with yellow lights on." Ok, from the start of our road to the very end, there are signs everywhere stating no trucks. This one guy decided he didn't have to obey the signs and kept on going. You know,he got caught, right in front of the house. They had to re-route traffic, have him back up, go onto one street, back up and then take the next street over to get off this road and get to the 4 lane that he should have been using in the first place.

Chuck commented that it would be a good thing if they enforce this, and apparently they are enforcing it.

I have noticed that it is very quiet now in the mornings. They didn't use their Jake Brake through this area, but when the windows rattled and the house shook, you felt it, you heard every little bump in the road, all hours of the night. For 8 years we have listened to this, complained about it, and now they finally have done something. Yes, there are the dump trucks and the school buses, but that is needed. The other wasn't needed and now they aren't allowed to travel down this road any longer.

Another Monday off exploring

2008-10-28T16:18:00.000-07:00

I decided that last Monday would be a day for me to go exploring again. Since I am off Mondays, Chuck has to work, the boys are at school, why not go for a ride???? And gas has gone down considerably, so, I was off for another ride to some back road in the county.

I took off down to the end of our delivery area and kept on driving. I knew some of the area, I knew that eventually I would end up out on the highway. But what I didn't know was, what way I was gonna go. I did have my map with me, thankfully! But I really needed a Tom Tom right now. I got turned around in an area very unfamiliar to me. I saw very few cars and had no cell coverage, so I had to follow the map as best as I could.

I was hoping for some photo ops, but there weren't many out there to be found. Not like there was on the other side of the county. I really was hoping for some nice shots, but I only got a few. There weren't the barns out there that I was hoping for, the old houses, the farms, the relics in buildings. The area was quite nice, but not what I was hoping for.

Of course when I find something to take a picture of, a car, out of nowhere comes up behind me. Don't you know that was bound to happen, apparently they knew where they were going. I should have followed them.

This would have been amazing if the colors were changing. They are really changing this week, and it was nasty yesterday to go out and take pictures of the area that I have explored once already.

This was just one that I could get. I saw it, turned around and got out of the car to get it. Nothing special, but I love the roof on this thing,

This barn was right on the same property, located right behind the first one. The roof looks rather new, but the buildings haven't been used, and they seem as if they are just left to fall apart.

The house on the property was a very old house. I knew someone lived there. It was a great old house. Can you imagine the stories those walls could tell. Oh my, the life that had been lived there. I love the old style, the old windows and just the structure of the house.

I love the chimney and the porch. That is a house, that is what a house should look like. You know at one point in time, this house was worth a lot. Now, someone lives there, doesn't know how to take care of it, leaves it to fall apart. Oh the history in something like that.

Obviously I did find my way out, it was a ride and lots of confusion, but when I came out behind the party rental I was thrilled.

I did find this one barn. I am sure people still use this area but not as much as what it was used before. It was an area of farming and cattle at one point, but as that has gotten so very expensive to do, it doesn't seem worth all the work for the little bit of pay that they get for it.

I do believe that I will travel down the roads that I have been before. Look for photo ops that passed me by before. Travel down back country roads that have "Farm machinery crossing." At least then I will know that I have a chance to get some pictures.

The winter comes and so do the bills

2008-10-28T15:57:00.000-07:00

When I posted about turning on the heat, I received 2 comments about the heating bills. I think this is the time of year that I do like the most, but I dread the electric bill that comes in.

My 2 friends have gas heat, I am so thankful that we don't. We have everything on the electric bill. All the utilities are on one. So, I guess I can be grateful about that.

TVA annouced that as of October 1st, all electric bills will be going up anywhere from $16 to $20 a month. WOW! That is a lot of money. And to hit that during the winter time, that is just wrong!

So, we get our bill. It is $204, $17 of it comes from the TVA increase. Whoa! It would have been $187, but I guess TVA has to make up their spending somehow, and they hit us with it.

So, this winter we decided that the heat will stay on about 66 degrees. That is warm enough. If you aren't in a room, turn the light out, the TV off. I bought a blanket for me to use in the Greatroom. That way if I do get cold, the heat won't be touched. The windows in PJ's room will be covered in plastic to keep his room warmer. Ceiling fans already have been reversed. To suck up the cold air, push down the warm air. The boys have extra blankets on their beds, and the rooms are closed off so that way they stay warm. It is just something we have to do if we want to keep the utilities down this winter.

Eric always dresses in his fleece pants and a sweatshirt, along with his new wool socks that I picked up for $3 a pair. PJ has his flannel pants and fleece shirt that he wears around the house. They each have quilts on their beds to keep them warm, so they will be fine.

Keeping the house at 66 or 67 wards off the germ bugs too. That is another plus right there.

So, we will see how this goes this winter. I have changed lightbulbs over to compact floursent bulbs, sealed up doors, close doors behind the boys that were born in a barn, and making the attempt to keep the house comfortable, not expensive.

Today is my Saturday

2008-10-28T15:32:00.000-07:00

It used to be that Saturday was the day that I did everything, but now that my schedule has changed somewhat, I now have Tuesday as my Saturday.

Chuck has a meeting tomorrow for work. It is only a few times a year and each time they meet, 3 stores get together and bring lunch. This was Chuck's and the area's turn, so I volunteered to cook the lunch for tomorrow. He didn't want me to, but because I don't get to cook that often anymore, I jumped on the chance.

I have to remember that I am feeding 10 people, some are big eaters, some are picky, some just would rather eat something else. No hard feelings there, if you don't want to eat, you go hungry. Chuck was gonna pick up some BBQ from a local place that is outstanding. I didn't know that he was gonna do that, I would have let the guy get some business and advertising at the same time.

I chose to make a White Bean and Rigatoni dish. You know the one Royce, the one that you just love. Considering I am feeding many people, I had to quadruple the recipe. That is a lot of food. But for those of you that would like to make it for you and the family, here is the very simple and quick recipe.

1/2 lb box of rigatoni
1 lb Italian Sausage, cooked and sliced into 1/2 inch pieces. You can use turkey sausage or none at all.
2 cans Great Northern White beans, drained and rinsed
2 cans Italian style diced tomatoes (I like petite diced)

Cook the sausage, either bake or fry in pan. In medium saucepan, combine beans and tomatoes, add sausage. Cook pasta according to package. Drain, return to pot. Add the bean and tomato mixture, stir to combine.
Top with parmesan cheese and fresh basil. Serve.

That easy. But of course today I had to have 4 cans of tomatoes and 4 cans of beans, 4 lbs of sausage and rigatoni too. I have the beans, tomatoes and sausage all mixed up, ready to go. Now, I have to get up tomorrow and make the pasta. I will be up early for that. When that gets done, combine everything in the crockpots and let him get to his meeting.

I also made a cake. I love to bake and it is fun for me. Deeply Chocolate Almond Cake with Chocolate Cream Cheese Frosting. Yes, it is that good. Sinful, actually.

One top of that, I had to get dinner ready for tonight. It was gonna be a cold night, I knew that when I planned out my meals for the week. So, I got bought a whole chicken instead of it already cut up, a difference of about $4 in price. Cut the chicken and make stock for chicken and dumplings, Cracker Barrel style. I love theirs, mine isn't nearly as creamy or good, but I think they are rather tasty. Only make enough for one meal. I used to make them differently, but adding cream of chicken soup is out of the question for us now. I would rather put healthy stuff in our bodies. Trying to keep up healthy.

While all of this was going on, I had one more bag of apples left. Johanna asked if I have had enough apples, the answer is YES! I am appled out. But this stuff will be around next year, through the winter. So, it is nice to make homemade buttermilk biscuits and fresh homemade apple butter to go along with it. That was breakfast this morning, along with 2 slices of Taylor ham. Chuck can't stand the stuff, I don't care. I love it. Call it a New Jersey thing.

Three loads of wash, a plate of Rocky Road fudge for the meeting too. And now time to relax.

Chuck is at work tonight, so the boys and I are gonna watch "The Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown." Yes, I know that I am 41, but ya know, the kids still watch it, I still look forward to the holidays and all the shows that come on during the season.
Elaine, you and I will be watching A Year Without A Santa Claus again this year. And when I watch it, I will be singing along, just like you will be!

Ok, that was my day off. I was busy. But, it was productive. I have to follow Johanna's steps and clean out some closets next week. I have a ton of crafts that I need to be working on, but right now, it is finding them and getting to them.

I stay busy, it is good for me, it is good for the family too. I make some good dinners and good desserts too.

Apple Butter is just so good.

2008-10-27T16:03:00.000-07:00

Several weeks ago my dad brought me a crate of apples. I made applesauce, some apple butter, 2 apple pies, canned apple slices for whatever, and then I had some leftover, but I didn't have time to do anything with them. I cut them up, put them in gallon baggies, fruit fresh them and put them in the refrigerator. They are still there. I have also made apple juice out of the apple peels, to make apple peel jelly tomorrow.

I have a blog that I read everyday. The CrockPot Lady. She made a New Year's Resolution that she would use her crockpot everyday this year. So far, she has posted a different recipe everyday. And she will tell you the truth if it is any good or not.

Well, when I started reading her blog, I spotted something about crockpot apple butter. I looked at it, was a little hesitant about it, but decided that since I was going shopping with my dad today, I was gonna put the apples in the crockpot, along with the vanilla. Left it alone until I got home. To view this wonderful, very easy recipe,
http://crockpot365.blogspot.com/2008/10/crockpot-apple-butter-recipe.html

This is so easy that anyone can do it. Now, she comments that the sugar was too much. So, of course, I have to adjust this to our taste in this house. I put in one cup of white sugar, 3/4 cup of brown sugar, and some fresh grated nutmeg. Perfect. The color was right, the taste was better than what you buy in the store, and I canned it up and put them in the hot water canner for a later date. I have more apples in the fridge, I may make more of this or maybe some crockpot apple sauce. You don't have to stand over it all day long, just let the crockpot do all the work.

And now that I am working different hours, I am wanting to use the crockpot more often now. I follow her blog and I read all that she has to make. Some things sound wonderful. I am looking for a little dipper pot to make Pumpkin Spice Lattes, in the crockpot, who knew!

Check it out, you won't believe some of the stuff that she adapts to the crockpot.

A few more work funnies

2008-10-27T15:33:00.000-07:00

A while back I posted a couple of work funnies. Johanna got the biggest chuckle out of me spliting my pants the 2nd or 3rd week on the job. Yes, it was funny, and embarrassing, but no one knew anything, so I was safe. My dad delivered my pants to work and I kept on going.

So, I have been compiling many work funnies over the past few months and I hope you enjoy some of the funnies that I have done, go ahead, laugh at me, it is ok. But laugh at some of the other things too, things that happened to me, things that I have seen, and some things that I shouldn't have seen.

I deliver to people that have dogs. It is just part of the job. I got to this one house and I noticed little Scotties on the porch. I thought, "how cute, this one has Scotties." I rang the doorbell and this huge bark came out from the other side. Usually I don't mind dogs, but when you aren't expecting a large dog, it is rather frightening. The glass storm door was shut, but the other door was wide open. Here comes running a Boxer, lands on it's butt, slides to the door and barks. I jump back about 10 feet, scared me half to death. The woman came outside, "Oh, you are not scary." Oh yes she was. I usually don't have problem with dogs, this dog was sweet, but it still scared me. Meanwhile, the dog is at the door, looking at me, drooling, and I know it was laughing at me.

There was this time, that I thought was rather different. I was delivering to a well-to-do area. Most of those people do not have numbers on the house or on the box for that matter either. Makes it really difficult to find the right house. Of course this one particular day, I went to the wrong house, should have been the neighbor's house. I got there, rang the doorbell and the woman came to the door. She pays me, and we got to talking and I walked off with the pizza. She laughed so hard, she gave me a bigger tip. She said, "I think you forgot something!" Yep, I sure did....... Oh well, you do the job and see how well you do.

I am glad that I waited until this week to post this, because I would have missed this one. I was on my way back from a run, sitting at a light. The other side light changed and the motorcyclist took off, running on one wheel, flying down the road. Right by the gas station, Dr's office, carwash, whoops, I guess he missed the police officer sitting right there. I know better not to speed down that road. He did too, just thought showing off would be cool. I drove by him as he was pulled over. Saw him at the light on my next run. I was looking at him, shaking my head, "83 in a 45", "Dude, what were you thinking?" "I wasn't thinking" Found out that it will probably be a $300 ticket and could lose his license. Not funny for him, funny for me though.

Last Sunday I was working. I took a delivery to another nice area of town. Knocked on the all glass door, no answer. About 2 minutes later here comes this very nice looking young, healthy man walking by me, NAKED! He looked out the door, covered up, WHOA! 2 steps back and out of sight. Now, this doesn't phase me anymore, I have seen it all, heard it all, and nothing really bothers me. I stood there, waiting, waiting, waiting, finally he came to the door. "I didn't hear the doorbell" "Um, there isn't one." He looked outside, "Well, I was in the shower anyways." No, really, I think I could have figured that one out. People that have glass doors should not walk around naked, especially when you order pizza. The heck with throwing stones in a glass house.

The next delivery after that I had a credit card slip, but I forgot my pen. This man asks, "If we can't find a pen, can I sign in blood?" "Sure, I don't care as long as you don't forget the tip." The other guy that was there with him, watching the game, "Um, that was a little awkward." "Nope, nothing is awkward for me anymore." And it really isn't.

The real funny thing is, I had to deliver to naked man again yesterday. I laughed when I saw the ticket, shook my head and walked out. Told my boss as I was leaving that this was naked man's house. She got a kick out of it and told me not to stay too long. He was fully clothed this time, told me that he was putting the tip on the card. I looked at him and told him, "I got the tip last week, but you can put one on there." He turned beet red, he remembered me.

That is all for right now. I have more, but I had to end with the one about the naked man. Nothing can top that one. It was too funny for me, too embarrassing for him.

Enjoy, laugh at me, laugh at what happened, oh, just laugh!

The heat is on

2008-10-27T12:21:00.001-07:00

Living down here I have learned that I don't usually have the heat on until the first week in November. This year was different. I came home about 2 weeks ago and thought I smelled the dust coming out of the vents. And I was right.

It got cold very fast this year. Sometimes we have a slow transisition, this year, um, no. It was really nice one day and the next day it turned cold. So, the nights now consist of the heat, electric blanket, heavier socks and slippers. Sweat shirts and sweat pants have replaced the t shirt and shorts that I would wear when I got home from work.

I love this time of year. I love to get the blankets out and cuddle too. Summer is fun, to me that is the fun time of year. The boys play outside and have a blast, we have our gardens and learn all kinds of new things.

For me Fall is my time of year. I love to sit and crochet more, I feel as if this is the time of year for that. I don't feel as if I am wasting a beautiful summer day, stuck inside. The colors make the entire Fall season worth while. I love the vibrant oranges, reds and yellow, twine in some brown and you have a picture worth taking. A ride worth driving, a day worth spending outside breathing the Fall, crisp, fresh air.

Yes, it did get colder sooner this year, but that is ok, it is opening the way for Winter. For snow, snowmen, snow angels, snow ball fights. For frosty mornings, for homemade cocoa, for warm meals that warm us all the way to the bone.

I so enjoy the colder weather. It is easier for dinners, harder to get out of bed, prettier to look at, and a time to bundle up and go and play, come in and warm up.

I love this time of year, and once again, I am so looking forward to working outside more.

The saga is over, it leaks no more

2008-10-27T11:33:00.000-07:00

My part came in from Mike's Maytag and they didn't charge me for the part. I told the guy that does own the store that I was treated badly by one guy that worked there. I told him all that happened, turned out if Mikey was there, I would have had the fridge covered, no questions asked. But because of what happened, we had to go through the ordeal that we had gone through.

After they came out the 2 times to fix the fridge, we noticed that it was still leaking. I was about to come unglued, there is only so much one person can handle, and I had my fill of this refrigerator.

Towels on the floor all the time and the constantly cleaning it up had gotten to me. I finally went over to the Maytag part store and explained to them what happened, they didn't charge me for the tray and told me that if we couldn't get it in, they would come out and fix it for us.

The only thing that we can figure is that the tray melted. Somehow the tray melted. They could have done it while they were torching something. And may have melted the tray. I don't know. But all I know is that this was the source of the leak. We taped it up with electric tape and that helped for a few days, but didn't fix it.

I pick up the part and we decided that this needed to be done. Ok, I tried to do this myself and couldn't get it done. I told Chuck that I didn't see how this is gonna work. We ended up taking everything out of the fridge, food and shelves and took the side and the bottom off and break the tray to get it out. It was melted badly. Now try to figure out a way to get the new one in. We flipped this over and fooled with it several minutes. Got it done, now to pick this up and put it back. It wasn't easy. Fill it back up and then see if it leaks. It doesn't, it is staying nice and cold and I hope that I don't have to worry about this again.